IMAGE  EVALUATION 
TEST  TARGET  (MT-3) 


1.0 


I.I 


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150  

■^        |40 

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1.8 


1.25 

1.4 

1.6 

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6"     - 

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Photographic 

Scieices 
Corporation 


23  WEST  MAirt  STiiciT 

WEBSTER,  NY.  14580 

(716)  872-4503 


CIHM/ICMH 

Microfiche 

Series. 


CIHM/ICMH 
Collection  de 
microfiches. 


Canadian  Institute  for  Historical  Microreproductions  /  Institut  Canadian  de  microreproductions  historiques 


<N^^ 


Technical  and  Bibliographic  Notes/Notes  techniques  et  bibliographiques 


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oriainal  copy  available  for  filming.  Features  of  this 
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which  may  alter  any  of  the  images  in  the 
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L'Institut  a  microfilme  le  meillaur  exemplaire 
qu'il  lui  a  ete  possible  de  se  procurer.  Les  details 
am  cet  exemplaire  qui  sont  peut-etre  uniques  du 
point  de  vue  bibliographique,  q-i  peuvent  modifier 
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modification  dans  la  m^thode  normale  de  filmage 
sonic  indiqu^s  ci-dessous. 


□    Coloured  covers/ 
Couverture  d«  couleur 

□    Covers  damaged/ 
Couverture  endommagoe 


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Pages  endontmagees 


□    Covers  restored  and/or  laminated/ 
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□    Pages  restored  and/or  laminated/ 
Pages  restaurees  et/ou  pelliculees 


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Encre  de  couleur  (i.e.  autre  que  bleue  cu  noire) 


0 


Pages  discoloured,  stained  or  foxed/ 
Pages  ddcolorees,  tachetdes  ou  piquees 


I      I    Pages  detached/ 


B 


Pages  detachees 


Showthrotigh/ 
Transparence 


□    Coloured  plates  and/or  illustrations/ 
Planches  et/ou  illustrations  en  couleur 


□    Quality  of  print  varies/ 
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D 


Bound  with  other  material/ 
ReliA  avec  d'autres  documents 


□    Includes  supplementary  material/ 
Comprend  du  materiel  supplementaire 


D 


D 


Tight  binding  may  cause  shadows  or  distortion 
along  interior  margin/ 

Lareliure  serree  paut  causer  de  I'ombre  ou  de  la 
distorsion  le  long  de  la  marge  intarieure 

Blank  leaves  added  during  restoration  may 
appear  within  the  text.  Whenever  possible,  these 
huve  been  omitted  from  filming/ 
II  se  peut  que  certitines  pages  blanches  ajout^es 
lors  d'uno  restauration  apparaissent  dans  le  texte, 
mais,  lorsque  cela  dtait  possible,  ces  pages  n'ont 
pas  iti  filmdes. 


D 

D 


Only  edition  available/ 
Seule  Edition  disponible 

Pages  wholly  or  partially  obscured  by  errata 
slips,  tissues,  etc..  have  been  refilmed  to 
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obscurcies  par  un  feuillet  d'errata,  une  pelure. 
etc.,  cnt  6t6  fi!m6es  d  nouveau  de  facon  a 
obtenir  la  mei'iaure  image  possible. 


n 


Additional  comments:/ 
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This  item  is  filmed  at  the  reduction  ratio  checked  below/ 

Ce  document  est  film^  au  taux  de  reduction  indiqu^  ci-dessous. 


10X 

14X 

18X 

22X 

26X 

30X 

V 

n 

12X 


16X 


20X 


24X 


28X 


32X 


The  copy  filmed  hers  has  been  reproduced  thanks 
to  the  generosity  of: 

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Canadian  History  Department 

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filming  contract  specifications. 


L'axemplaire  filmi  fut  reproduit  grSce  d  la 
g6n6rosEt6  de:  \ 

Metropolitan  Toronto  Library 
Canadian  History  Department 

Les  images  suivantes  ont  6t6  reproduites  avec  le 
plus  grand  soin,  compte  tenu  de  la  condition  et 
de  la  nettet6  de  Texemplaire  fiimi,  et  en 
conformity  avec  les  conditions  du  contrat  de 
filmage. 


Original  copies  in  printed  paper  covers  are  filmed 
beginning  with  the  front  cover  and  ending  on 
the  last  page  with  a  printed  or  illustrated  impres- 
sion, or  the  back  cover  when  appropriate.  All 
other  original  copies  are  filmed  beginninn  on  the 
first  page  with  a  printed  or  illustrated  impres- 
sion, and  ending  on  the  last  page  with  a  printed 
or  illustrated  impression. 


The  last  recorded  frame  on  each  microfiche 
shall  contain  the  symbol  — ♦-  (meaning  "CON- 
TINUED"), or  the  symbol  V  (meaning  "END"), 
whichever  applies. 

Maps,  plates,  charts,  etc.,  may  be  filmed  at 
different  reduction  ratios.  Those  too  large  to  be 
entirely  included  in  one  exposure  are  filmed 
beginning  in  the  upper  left  hand  corner,  left  to 
right  and  top  to  bottom,  as  many  frames  as 
required.  The  following  diagrams  illustrate  the 
method: 


Les  exemplaires  originaux  dont  la  couverturo  en 
papier  est  imprimde  sont  filmds  en  commeni^ant 
par  le  premier  plat  et  en  terminant  soit  par  la 
dernidre  page  qui  comporte  une  empreinte 
d'imprersion  ou  d'illustration.  soit  par  le  second 
plat,  selon  le  cas.  Tous  les  autres  exemplaires 
originaux  sont  film^s  en  commen9ant  par  I& 
premidre  page  qui  comporte  une  empreinte 
d'imprsssion  ou  d'illustration  et  en  terminant  par 
la  dernidre  page  qui  comporte  une  telle 
empreinte. 

Un  des  symboles  suivants  apparaitra  sur  la 
derni^re  image  de  chaque  microfiche,  selon  le 
cas:  le  symbole  — »►  signifie  "A  SUIVRE",  ie 
symbole  V  signifie  "FIN". 

Les  cartes,  planches,  tableaux,  etc.,  peuvent  etre 
film6s  d  des  taux  de  reduction  diff6rents. 
Lorsque  le  document  est  trop  grand  pour  etre 
reproduit  en  un  seul  clich6,  il  est  film6  d  partir 
de  Tangle  sup6rieur  gauchs,  de  gauche  d  droits, 
et  de  haut  en  bas,  en  prenant  le  nombre 
d'images  n6cessaire.  Les  diagrammes  suivants 
illustrent  la  mdthode. 


1 

2 

3 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

THE 


MINERAL  AND   THERMAL 


s  p  R I  :nt  G  s 


OF  THE 


UNITED    STATES    AND    CANADA, 


BY 

JOHN  BELL,  M.  D., 

AUTHOR  OP  "  BATHS  AND  MINERAL  WATERS  ;''   ''  BAIHS  AND  THE  WATERT 

REOIMEN  ;•'  LECTURES  ON  THE  PRACTICE  OF  PHYSIC ;  "  REGIMEN 

AND  longevity;"  "dictionary  OF  MATERIA  MEDICA,'* 

ETC.  ETC.  ETC. 


P  II I  L  A  D  i:  L  P  II 1  A  : 

P  A  R  11  Y     A  X  I)     :\I  0  M  I  L  L  A  y , 

SUCCESSORS  TO  A.  HART,  LATE  CAREY  &  HART. 

1855. 


"  "-■) 


it 


Entered  aocorcHng  to  act  of  Congress,  in  the  year  1855,  by 

JOHN  BELL,  M.  D., 

in  the  Clerk's  Office  of  the  Dlstri  '  Court  of  the  United  States 

for  the  Eastern  District  of  Pennsylvania. 


m 


t^  «■- 


TO 


13 


LEWIS  WALN,  Esquire, 

2^1)13  Iniall  fouli 


ON    A    GEEAT    SUBJECT 


IS   INSCRIBED, 


IN    TESTIMONY    OT    ESTEEM, 


BY 


THE  AUTHOR. 


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Tim 

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) 


PREFACE. 


'U. 


■^3 


r  iV 


f 


The  want  of  a  manual  in  wliich  travellers 
for  curiosity  and  pleasure,  and  invalids  in 
quest  of  liearii,  might  learn  where  to  go,  how 
to  go,  and  what  to  find,  in  relation  to  the 
IV^'neral  and  Thermal  Springs  of  our  country, 
has   been   generally  felt.      Physicians,  too, 
have  wished  for  a  work  to  which  they  could 
refer  for  information  respecting  the  physical 
and  chemical  properties  and  medicinal  vir- 
tues of  the  several  springs.    There  are,  in- 
deed, some  published  accounts  of  particular 
springs,  and  even  groups  of  springs,  as,  for 
example,  of  those  of  New  York  and  of  Vir- 
ginia, of  which  free  use  has  been  made  in  the 
following  pages.     But,  with  the  exception  of 
a  work  by  the  author,  issued  twenty-five  years 
ago,  no  attempt  has  hitherto  been  made  to 


i]      -_   3^:" 


^1 

'J  I 


^^  PREFACE. 

collect  and  arrange  methodically  tlie  nume- 
rous separate  and  scattered  histories  and  de- 
scriptions of  the  different  mineral  and  thermal 
springs  of  the  United  States,  as  has  been  done 
for  those  of  Great  Britain  and  Ireland  of 
France,  of  Germany,  and,  in  a  more  restricted 

manner,  of  Italy.  i  j,..  j  f„_ 

Duly  elaborated  and  refined,  and  Stoed  ior 
immediate  use  by  an  all-wise  and  beneficent 
Creator,  these  waters  constitute  a  large  and 
important  addition  to  our  Materia  Medica. 
They  come  to  us  with  the  recommendation 
not  only  of  their  known  curative  powers,  but 
also,  of  their  supply  being  perennial  and  m- 
exhaustible,  and  exempt  alike  from  change 
and  adulteration.    They  are  offered,  more- 
over with  the  associated  advantages  of  pure 
air  new  and  often  romantic  scenery,  and  en- 
livening company ;  for  it  is  now  understood 
that  Pleasure  and  the  Graces  are  also  visitors 
to  the  fountains  of  Hygeia.    Thus  are  the 
best  means  combined  together  for  the  reno- 
vation of  the  wasted  and  sickly  frame,  and 
for  an  infusion  of  hope  and  cheerfulness  mto 
the  mind  ill  at  ease,  if  not  weighed  down 
witli  care. 


1 


PREFACE. 


Vll 


:4 


m 


Like  every  other  gift,  this  one  may  be,  and, 
unfortunately,  often  is  greatly  abused,  owing 
to  ignorance  and  false  theory,  and  an  impa- 
tience to  obtain  decided  results  within  a  period 
far  short  of  that  which  Nature  requires  to  ac- 
complish the  intended  purpose.  Measuring 
efficacy  by  quantity,  invalids  often  commit 
excesses  which  aggravate,  instead  of  soothing 
and  ameliorating  their  complaints.  So,  also, 
a  want  of  adaptation,  in  the  time  of  drink- 
ing the  mineral  water  and  of  using  the  bath,  to 
their  actual  condition,  is  productive  of  injury ; 
and  bad  effects  are  attributed  to  the  remedy 
itself,  which  are  owing  to  the  indiscretion  of 
those  who  made  improper  use  of  it.  The  au- 
thor, in  the  following  pages,  has  endeavored 
to  guard  visitors  to  watering  places  against 
repetitions  of  these  and  other  mistakes.  With 
this  view  he  offers  suggestions  and  advice 
susceptible  of  general  use  and  application; 
leaving  to  the  regular  medical  adviser  the 
exercise  of  his  privilege  in  giving  those  mi- 
nute directions  which  may  be  required  by  the 
constitutional  peculiarities  of  the  invalid,  and 
the  stage  and  other  circumstances  of  the  dis- 
ease under  which  he  labors,  and  for  the  cure 


11 
II 


iM«    1 

w-if 

^^^^^B  ^^^fe  1 

PREFACE. 
VlU 

of  which  he  g-es  to  the  Spring  selected  for 

the  purrtose.  r>-     •   ^ 

An  invahd,  once  arrived  at  tHe  Spring, 
although  he  may  have  been  influenced  in  his 
Section  by  what  he  may  have  read  in  these 
pag  s"  not  to  suppose  that  the  information 
thus  acquired  can  enable  him  to  dispense  with 
suitable  medical  advice,  if  it  can  be  procured 
on  the  spot.    It  would  be  a  wise  economy  in 
all  who  propose  to  drink  the  water,  to  indicate 
to  the  resident  physician  their  intentions,  and 
to  obtain  from  him  an  outline  of  the  precau- 
tions  to  be  taken  and  the  course  to  be  pursued 
during  the  period  of  his  stay.  ■ 

The  strictly  medical  portion  of  the  present 
volume  is  intended  for  the  perusal  of  the  pro- 
fessional reader.    The  general  one,  whether 
traveller  or  invalid,  will,  it  is  believed,  find 
in  other  parts  of  it  matter  for  instruction  and 
interest,  without  his  engaging  in  the  recon- 
dite questions  of  pathology  and  therapeutics. 
Apart  from  its  hygienic  features,  there  are 
others  relating  to  the  natural  history  of  mme- 
ral  and  thermal  springs,  well  adapted  to  ex- 
cite,  and,  to  a  certain  extent,  gratify  the  curi- 
osity of  an  inquiring  mind.    A  description  ot 


PREFACE. 


IX 


I 


curi- 


tlie  temperature,  composition,  modes  of  issue 
of  these  waters,  and  the  nature  o.'  heir  depo- 
sits, and  the  geological  appearaiices  around, 
can  scarcely  fail  to  awaken  an  interest  in  the 
most  indifferent.  It  is  barely  necessary,  in  il« 
lustration  of  this  point,  to  refer  to  the  Geysers 
and  the  Stokkr,  the  Spouting  Springs  of  Ice- 
land ;  or  to  the  alabaster  deposits  at  the  Baths 
of  San  Filippo,  in  Tuscany,  furnishing  mate- 
rials for  medal  and  bust ;  or  to  the  wavy  ter- 
races formed  by  the  springs  of  Heliopolis,  in 
Asia  Minor^  and  the  miniature  temples,  as  if 
for  a  dwelling  of  the  Naiads,  deep  in  their  wa- 
ters. In  the  Boiling  or  Carbonated  Springs  of 
Kansas,  the  Beer  Springs  and  the  Steamboat 
Spring  in  Oregon,  the  Hot  Springs  of  Pyra- 
mid Lake  in  Utah,  and  the  Volcanic  Springs 
of  California,  we  have  equally  rare  and  striking 
pictures  of  nature  under  new  and  varied  as- 
pects. At  some  of  these  spots,  the  people  of 
the  Atlantic  and  Pacific  States  will,  ere  long, 
meet  in  convention  to  adjust  questions  of 
State  politics  and  Church  discipline;  or,  on 
pleasure  bent,  will  here  keep  high  holi.^ay. 

The  author  has   arranged  the  materials 
gathered  from  a  variety  of  sources,  in  such  a 


^  PBEFACE. 

manner  as  to  show  the  distances  and  bearings 
of  the  different  springs  of  the  great  West 
from  each  other,  and  from  some  stnkmg  ob- 
ject in  natnre-a  river,  a  lake,  or  a  mountam 
range,  so  as  to  enable  the  reader  to  find  them 
with  comparative  ease  on  a  common  map. 

It  may  be  well  to  say,  in  explanation  ot 
the  moderate  size  and  scope  of  the  present 
volume,  that,  although  entire  in  itself,  the 
subjects  of  which  it  treats  were  intended  to 
be  included  in  a  larger  work  on  mineral  and 
thermal  springs  in  all  parts  of  the  wor  d. 
That  which  is  now  introduced  to  pub  lo 
notice  with  a  hope  that  it  will  promote  the 
public  good,  must,  therefore,  be  regarded  as 
an  earnest  of  the  intentions  of  the  author, 
and  an  instalment  of  his  accumulated  stores 
The  larger  work  will  embrace  the  natural 
history  of  springs,  common  as  well  as  mine- 
ral and  thermal,  and  a  description  of  the 
successive  steps  of  mineralization,  begun  in 
the  atmosphere,  and  continued  in  the  suc- 
cessive  stages  of  the  percolation  of  atmo- 
spheric or  meteoric  water,  in  the  form  of  ram 
melted  snow,  and  precipitated  vapors,  through 
various  and  successive  strata  of  earths  and 


I 


PREFACE. 


XI 


rings 
West 
.gob- 
mtain 
them 
ap. 

on  of 
resent 
If,  the 
ded  to 
•al  and 
world, 
publio 
Dte  the 
rded  as 
author, 
L  stores, 
natural 
IS  mine- 
of  the 
fegun  in 
the  suc- 
►f  atmo- 
L  of  rain, 
through 
rths  and 


rocks,  where  it  is  impregnated  with  differ- 
ent saline  and  mineral  substances,  and  then 
emerges  from  its  subterranean  channels  as  a 
fountain  or  spring,  with  all  its  newly  ac- 
quired, but,  at  the  same  time,  permanent 
characters.  Next  come  up  for  consideration 
thermalism,  and  the  connection  between  ther- 
mal springs,  and  volcanoes  and  subterranean 
and  central  heat.  Artesian  wells,  the  waters 
of  which  have  so  close  a  relation  to  those  of 
common  springs,  by  community  of  origin ;  of 
mineral  ones  by  their  frequent  mineral  im- 
pregnation ;  and  of  thermal  by  an  increase  of 
their  temperature  with  that  of  their  depth — 
have  received  a  full  share  of  attention.  The 
author,  in  his  investigation  of  these  subjects, 
has  followed  the  voyagers  of  circumnaviga- 
tion and  discovery,  and  other  travellers  and 
zealous  missionaries  in  their  wanderings  and 
adventures.  He  has  put  under  contribution 
journals  of  science,  and  the  transactions  of 
learned  societies,  and,  in  this  way,  he  has 
collected  accounts  of  mineral  and  thermal 
springs  in  greater  number,  and  over  a  wider 
range,  than  has  yet  appeared  in  any  single 
work. 

In  thus  leaving  the  beaten  track  and  seek- 


•  .'J 


i 


u     U 


m 


11 

1 

1' 

i, 

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r 

1 

I 

^[{  PilEFACE. 

in.^  out  sources  of  information  in  quarters 
hitherto  overlooked,  the  author  has  written 
a  kind  of  Itinerary,  in  which  he  has  not  con- 
fined himself  to  a  mere  enumeration  of  the 
various  springs,  and  their  geographical  situ- 
ation in  general.    He  has  introduced,  in  ad- 
dition, topographical  sketches,  descriptive  of 
localities  and  scenery;  and  he  has  made  .re- 
quent  references  to  historical  events  and  great 
names  associated  with  different  springs--as 
of  Leonidas  and  his  three  hundred  performing 
their  last  ablutions  at  the  Hot  Springs  of 
Thermopyte;   Aristotle  revisiting  those  ot 
his  own  Lesbos ;  Hannibal  at  the  Warm  Baths 
of  Brusa,  and  Cicero  and  his  "Academy 
and  a  long  list  of  other  illustrious  Komans, 
■   in  connection  with  those  of  Baiae;  Pliny  the 
Elder,  at  Stabiie,  taking  his  last  look  at  the, 
to  him,  fatal  eruption  of  Vesuvius;  and  Char- 
lemagne  holding  court  in  the  great  bath  at 
Aix-Fa-Chapelle,  &c.  &c. 

Not  only  will  the  springs  of  Europe  wiih 
their  physical  and  chemical  characters  and 
medicinal  effects  be  described,  but  groups 
in  all  other  parts  of  the  world  will  obtain 
adequate  notice.    Already  he  has  passed  m 


PREFACE. 


Xlll 


quarters 
written 
lot  con- 
1  of  the 
3al  situ- 
l,  in  ad- 
iptive  of 
lade  fre- 
,nd  great 
ings — as 
rforming 
jrings  of 

those  of 
,rm  Baths 
Lcademy" 

Koinans, 
Pliny  the 
ok  at  the, 
and  Char- 
It  bath  at 

rope  with 
acters  and 
ut  groups 
nil  obtain 
passed  in 


review,  and  made  due  record  of  the  mineral 
and  thermal  springs  of  Asia  Minor,  of  Cir- 
cassia  and  the  Caucasus,  of  Hindostan  and  Thi- 
bet, on  each  side  of  the  great  Himalaya  range, 
of  Central  and  Northern  Asia  to  Kamtschatka, 
and  of  North  and  South  Africa.  The 
islands  from  Iceland  to  New  Zealand,  and 
thence  to  those  of  Japan  and  the  Aleutian 
group  have  been  similarly  visited,  and  their 
hydrography  and  thermography  described. 
The  line  of  the  Andes,  followed  from  the 
Straits  of  Magellan  to  the  Isthmus  of  Pana- 
ma, and  Mexico  J  with  her  mountains,  exa- 
mined, the  author  will  then  have  collected  his 
materials,  and  be  ready  to  impart  all  that 
he  has  gleaned  with  so  much  labor  and  time, 
to  the  reading  public. 

Eeverting  to  the  volume  now  comple- 
ted, it  will  be  found  to  contain  notices, 
more  or  less  full,  of  one  hundred  and 
thirty  springs  and  groups  of  si  rings  belong- 
ing  to  the  United  States.  If  account  were 
taken  of  each  separate  spring  of  the  seve- 
ral groups,  which  is  marked  by  distinctive 
properties,  the  number  would  exceed  two 


i! 


^iy  PEEFACE. 

hundred.  Of  those  described,  there  arc  as 
will  be  seen  in  the  tabular  view  presented 
in  the  Appendix,  about  thirty  of  the  ther- 
mal  elass,  a  great  majority  of  >vlnch  must  be 
quite  new  to  most  readers.  . 


ill 


r 


m 


ire,  as 

seated 

tlier- 

ust  be 


CONTENTS. 


CHAPTEE  I. 

Chemical  division  of  mineral  waters — Tlieir  efficacy  as 
remedial  agents  inquired  into— Hygienic  precautions 
for  visUcrs  to  mineral  springs — Clothing,  diet,  sleep, 
amusements,  exercise 13 

CHAPTEE  11. 

Rules  for  drinking  mineral  waters — Time  of  the  day — 
Best  in  the  morning  early — Repetition — Same  rule  for 
bathing — Quantity  drank — Different  temperatures  of 
the  water  drank — Cold — Tepid — Hot — Condition  of  the 
invalid  modifies  the  effects  of  the  waters — Bathing  while 
drinking  mineral  waters,  and  rules  for  the  use  of  the 
bath  at  different  temperatures — Division  of  baths      31 


CHAPTEE  III. 

First  effects  of  drinking  mineral  waters — Secondary  and 
remote  effects — Diseases  in  which  they  are  employed — 
Five  classeti  mentioned  by  a  committee  of  the  French 
Academy  on  the  subject — Comparative  results  in  dif- 


XVI 


CONTENTS. 


fercnt  diseases— Two  great  classes  of  invalids— The 
plethoric  in  the  first— Suiferers  from  fever,  disorders 
of  the  digestive  apparatus,  direct  and  secondaiy,  bron- 
chial disorders,  rheumatism,  nervous  and  skin  and 
uterine  diseases  in  the  second  class    ...      32 

■    CHAPTEK  lY. 

Mineral  springs  of  New  York— Their  geological  relations 
— Acidulo-saline  waters— Those  of  Saratoga  and  Ball- 
ston  — Their  situation  and  extensive  range  — Chief 
springs  at  Saratoga— Physical  properties  and  analyses 
of  the  waters     .        .        •        •        ...      60 

CHAPTEE  Y. 

Medicinal  employment  of  the  Saratoga  waters— In  conges- 
tive states  of  the  digestive  system,  and  plethora— Sym- 
pathetic disturbances— Quantity  of  the  water  drank— 
Time  of  drinking  it— First  or  purgative  operation- 
Second  or  alterative '° 

CHAPTEE  YI. 

Sulphureous  Springs  of  New  York— Are  numerous— 
Sharon— Avon— Their  medicinal  effects— Various  dis- 
eases in  -which  useful— Quantity  to  be  drunk      .      93 

CHAPTEE  YII. 

other  Sulphur  Springs  of  New  York— Clifton— Chitte- 
nango— Manlius  Springs  and  Lake— Messina— Auburn 
—  Rochester  —  Verona  —  Saquoit  —  Newburgh  —  Al 


bany,  &c.  &c. 


120 


■m 


it! 


r 


■  'I- 


1 


CONTENTS.  xvii 


iids— The 
disorders 
wy,  bron- 
skin  and 
.       32 


1  relations 
and  Bail- 
ee—  Chief 
d  analyses 
.      60 


-In  conges- 
ora — Sym- 
er  drank — 
iperation — 
.      78 


mmerous — 
Various  dis- 
k       .       93 


on — Chitte- 

la — Auburn 

3urgh  —  Al- 

.     120 


CHAPTEE  YIII. 

Acid  Springs,  called  also  Alum  Springs — Byron  Acid  or 
Sour  Springs — Oak  Orchard  Acid  Springs — Their  com- 
position— Diseases  in  which  used — Acid  Springs  in 
South  America — Nitrogen  and  Thermal  Spring  of 
Lebanon — Brines,  or  Salt  Springs — Gas  Springs      131 

CHAPTER  IX. 

Springs  of  Maine:  Saline  ones  of  Lubec— Chalybeate 
ones  of  Dexter.  Springs  of  Vermont:  Highgate  — 
Newburg  —  Alburgh  —  Bennington  —  Clarendon.  — 
Springs  of  Massachusetts:  Berkshire  —  Hopkinton. — 
Springs  of  New  Jersey:  Schooley's  Mountain  —  Its 
situation — Composition  and  virtues  of  the  waters    1 42 

CHAPTER  X. 

Pennsylvania  Springs :  Bedford— its  situation— The  use 
of  the  waters  in  disease— Origin  of  their  reputation — 
Contraindications  to  their  use— Anderson's  Spring — 
Analysis— Medicinal  effects  of  the  water— Fletcher's 
Spring— Limestone  Spring— Sulphur  Spring  —  Sweet 
Spring  —  Chalybeate  Spring  — Baths  — Walks  and 
scenery  —  Manner  of  using  the  water  —  Recent 
analysis— Chalybeate  Spring  near  Pittsburg— Frank- 
fort Mineral  Springs  —  Springs  of  York  — Perry 
County— Carlisle— Doubling  Gap— Fayette— Blosburg 
— Bath— Petty's  Island^— The  Yellow,  Ephraoa,  and 


See  II.  in  the  Appendix. 


;x.viii 


CONTENTS. 


Caledonia  Springs-Caledonia  con^pared  to  Malvern 
Springs-Brandywine  Springs  in  Delaware  .     18- 

CHAPTEE  XI. 

Virdnia-Tts  numerous  mineral  and  thermal  springs- 
Lh  (Berkley  County )-Jordan's  White  Sulphur-Ca- 
pon-Fauquier  or  Warrenton-"  Virgmia  Springs  - 
The  Bath  Alum-Bockbridge  Alum-Volcanism  and 
Th.  malism-The  Warm  Springs-The  Hot  Spnngs-- 
Group  of  Sulphur  Springs-The  White  Sulphur      183 

CHAPTER  XII. 

Ked  Sulphur-Salt  Sulphar-Sweet  Sulphur-Blue  Sul- 
phur-Sweet  Springs-Bed   Sweet  Springs-Healing 
-^      Spring.  -  Dibrell's  -  Bawley's  -  Holstein -  Church- 
Hill  Alum— Huguenot        ...••     — 

« 

CHAPTER  XIII. 

Kentucky  Springs :  Harrodsburg-Rochester-Olympian 
-Blue  Lick -Lower  Blue  Lick -Ohio  Springs: 
Yellow  Spring-Westport-Hlinois  Springs-Tennes- 
see Springs:  White  Creek  — llobertson's -Lee's — 
Nashville— Winchester— :Montvale      . 


241 


CHAPTER  XIY. 

Springs  of  North  Carolina:  The  Warm  and  Hot  Sprin.-s 
of  Buncombe  County-Springs  of  South  Carolina: 
Glenn's,  West's,  Click's,  Cowpen's-Springs  of  Geor- 
gia: The  Indian— Warm,  of  Meriwether  County- 
Madison-How  reached— Rowland's,  Gordon's 


282 


m 


•^ 


CONTENTS. 


XIX 


D  INIalvern 
.     182 


springs — 
phur— Ca- 
Spnngs"— 
anism  and 
.  Springs — 
)hur      183 


—Blue  Sai- 
ls—Healing 
. —  Church- 
.     224 


— Olympian 
0  Springs : 
rrs — Tennes- 
3  —  Lee's  — 
.     241 


Hot  Springs 
ih  Carolina; 
gs  of  Geor- 
r    County — 

ion's    .     282 


CHAPTEK  XV. 

Springs  of  Alabama:  Blidon— Bailey's— Mineral  Arte- 
sian Wells— Springs  of  :Mississippi— Cooper's  (Arte- 
sian) Well— Ocean  Springs— Their  situation— Springs 
of  Arkansas  :  Hot  of  Ouachita  or  Washitaiv — Their 
situation— Between  the  Hot  and  Cold  Mountains 
— Vapor  bath— Cold  affusion  —  Warm  bath — Com- 
position of  the  water — Its  resemblance  to  chicken  broth 
— Diseases  cured  by  the  water — Chalybeate  and  Acidu- 
lous Springs— Number  of  the  Hot  Springs— Their 
geological  relations — AVarm  bath  in  the  creek — Tem- 
perature of  the  Springs — Adaptation  of  the  water  to 
certain  domestic  purposes — These  Hot  Springs  resem- 
ble those  of  Baden,  Wisbadcn,  Teplitz,  and  Carlsbad- 
Applicable  to  the  same  diseases — Cause  of  the  animal  fla- 
vor— Vapor  bathing — Its  effects  and  utility — Springs  of 
Florida  :  Numerous  but  not  described — Subterranean 
rivers — Sulphur  Spring  near  Tampa,  Magnolia,  &c.  291 

CHAPTER  XYL 

Mineral  and  Thermal  Springs  between  the  Mississippi 
and  the  Pacific  Ocean — Thermal  Spring  of  Fort  Laramie 
— Situation  of  the  fort — Soda  or  Sal  ^ratus  Ponds — 
Beer  Springs  on  Bear  River — Their  situation  and  tem- 
perature— Analysis — Hillocks  formed  by  the  waters 
— Steamboat  Spring — Why  so  called — Properties  of  its 
water — Other  similar  springs  adjoining — Extinct  volcano 
near  the  Beer  Springs — Boiling  (Acidulous)  Springs  of 
Pike's  Peak — Analysis  of  Saline  accumulations  at  this 
spot — Temperature  of  the  water        .        .        .     320 


CONTENTS. 


CHAPTER  XYII. 

Springs  in  Utah  and  around  the  Great  Salt  Lake :  Sul- 
phur Springs  of  Bitter  Creek— City  of  the  Great  Salt 
Lake— Its  situation— Copious  supply  of  water— City 
Warm  Sulphur  Spring— Hot  Spring— Warm  Fountains 
—Hot  Chalybeate  Red  Springs— Analysis  of  their  depo- 
sit-Bear River  Hot  Spring— Salt  and  Sulphur  Springs 
—Thermal  and  Saline  Springs— Spring  Valley  and 
Thermal  Saline  Springs— Warm  Springs  of  Lake  Utah 
— Water  of  the  Great  Salt  Lake         .        .        •     334 

CHAPTER  XYIII. 

Fort  Hall— American  Falls  of  Snake  River- Fishing  Falls 

Hot  Springs — Malheur  River  Hot  Springs — Soda  and 

Salt  Plain— Hot  and  Warm  Springs  of  Fall  River— Hot 
Springs  of  Pyramid  Lake— Springs  of  California  :  Hot 
Spring  of  Shasty  Peak— Acidulo-Chalybeate  Spring  of 
Shasty  Peak— Volcanic  Springs— Earthquake-Spouting 
Springs — Hot  Sulphur  Springs— Springs  of  New  Mexi- 
co :  Ojo  Caliente 344 

CHAPTER  XIX. 

Mineral  Springs  of  Canada— Tuscarora  Acid  Spring — 
Charlotteville  Sulphur  Spring  —  Ancaster  Spring- 
Caledonia  Springs — Their  varieties — Gas,  Saline,  Sul- 
phur, and  Intermitting:  Springs  —  Mineral  Artesian 
Well,  St.  Catharine's — Varennes,  &c.  &c.  .        .     369 


Eike :  Sul- 
jrreat  Salt 
iter— City 
Fountains 
heir  depo- 
ir  Springs 
alley  and 
jake  Utah 
.     334 


ihing  Falls 
-Soda  and 
iver — Hot 
rnia :  Hot 
Spring  of 
j-Spouting 
New  Mexi- 
.     344 


Spring — 
Spring- 
aline,  Sul- 
1  Artesian 
.     369 


MliXERAL  AND  THERMAL  SPRINGS. 


CHAPTER  I. 


Chemical  division  of  mineral  waters— Their  efficacy  as 
remedial  agents  inquired  into— Hygienic  precautions 
for  visitors  to  mineral  springs— Clothing,  diet,  sleep, 
amusements,  exercise. 

Mineral  Springs  will  be  spoken  of  in 
these  pages  under  the  heads  of— 1.  Acidu- 
lous or  Carbonated.  2.  Saline.  8.  Sulphu- 
reous. 4.  Chahjheate.  To  these  some  add  two 
other  classes,  the  loduretted  and  Bromuret- 
ted,  and  the  Acid.  The  name  of  the  first  of 
thpse  two  designates  their  predominant  traits. 
The  second  or  acid  includes  those  waters, 
comparatively  few  in  number,  in  which  there 
is  an  excess  of  sulphuric  acid,  usually  with 
alumina  and  iron,  as  sulphates.  In  Virginia, 
they  are  called  Alum  Springs. 

1.  Acidulous  waters  are  sometimes  called 

gaseous,   on    account    of   their    containino* 

2 


» 
« 


'4> 


i  IK  1*1 


s  1 


14        MINERAL  AND  THERMAL  SPRINGS. 

and  evolving  gas-wliicli  is  cliicfly  carbonic 
acid.      Owing   to  this  ingredient  tlicy  are 
sparkling,  stimulant,  and  agreeably  pungent 
to  the  taste.    They  hold  in  solution  various 
saline  Substances,  in  which,  for  the  most  part 
the  carbonates,  first  and  mainly  of  lime,  and 
then   of  magnesia   and   soda,   predominate, 
with  the  addition  often  of  the  carbonate  of 
iron  and  chloride  of  sodium,  or  common  salt. 
These  waters  are  occasionally  spoken  of  as 

alkaline. 

2  Saline  waters,  as  their  name  implies, 
abound  in  salts,  of  which  the  sulphate  of 
magnesia  or  Epsom  salts,  and  the  sulphate  of 
sodi  or  Glauber';^  salts  are,  medicinally,  the 
most  active,  whUe  clikride  of  .odium,  a  com- 
mon constituent,  adds  to  their  virtues  in  this 
respect.  Sulphate  of  lime,  which  is  of  little 
therapeutical  value,  is  quite  common  in  this, 
and  still  more  in  the  acidulous  and  sulphu- 
reous classes.  Carbonic  acid  abounds  in  some 
of  the  saline  waters,  entitling  them  to  be 
called  aciduh-saline,  A  remarkable  example 
of  this  union  is  met  with  in  the  Saratoga 

springs. 
3.  SuIj)hureous  waters  are  characterized  by 


-M 


m 


GS. 

carl30nic 
tlicy  are 
pungent 
1  various 
aost  part, 
lime,  and 
lominate, 
bonate  of 
imon  salt, 
xcn  of  as 

i  implies, 
ilpliate  of 
ulpliate  of 
inally,  tlie 
.m,  a  com- 
iies  in  this 
is  of  little 
on  in  this, 
id  sulpliu- 
ids  in  some 
lem  to  be 
Le  example 
e  Saratoga 

iterized  by 


CHEMICAL  DIVISION. 


15 


their  odor,  which  is  due  to  the  escape  of  sul- 
phuretted hydrogen  gas  (hydrosulphi.ric  or 
sulphohydric  acid)  or  to  the  presence  of  a^i 
alkaline  sulphuret.      They  strike   a   black 
color  on  the  addition  of  acetate  of  lead,  and 
impart  a  dark  hue  to  silver  and  other  white 
^^etals.     They  have  been  divided  into  1st. 
Ilydrosulphureous  waters,  which  contain  free 
sulphuretted  hydrogen  gas.  2d.  Sulphuretted 
or    hydrosulphuretted  waters,  in  which  tlie 
sulphur  is  combined  with  metals,  most  gene- 
rally with  sodium,  in  the  state  of  a  sulphu- 
ret.    3.   Acidulo-sulphureous,    which    hold, 
carbonic   acid   in   addition   to  the  gas  just 
named.    4.  Sulphuretted   acidulous  waters, 
which  contain  at  the  same  time  a  sulphuret, 
carbonic   acid,  and   sulphuretted   hydrogen 

gas.     6.  Chalybeate  sulj^hureous,  which  hold 
iron  in  solution. 

4th.  Chalyheate  or  Ferruginous  waters  are 
readily  recognizable  by  their  taste,  compared 
usually  to  that  Oi  mk,  which,  as  most  readers 
know,  depends  on  the  iron  which  enters  into 
its  composition  in  union  with  a  vegetable 
astringent.  Chalybeate  waters  are  discolored 
by  tincture  of  galls,  and  eventually  give,  by 


■f^.tv^f^  r-'*^"' 


.  j! 

1  ^ 

j? 

i  ^ 

1  ^':-^ 

•:f 

16        MINERAL  AND  THERMAL  SPRINGS. 

tills  addition,  a  black  precipitate;  witli  ferro- 
cyanate  of  potassa  the  precipitate  is  blue. 
By  contact  with  the  air,  they  deposit  gradu- 
ally  reddish  flocculi  of  the   oxide  of  iron. 
Most  of  them  are  cold,  and  the  iron  is  in  the 
state  of  a  carbonate  of  protoxide  dissolved 
in  carbonic  acid.     This  salt  is  precipitated  to 
n  certain  extent  by  exposure  of  the  chaly- 
beate water  to  the  air,  and  still  more  readily 
when  it  is  subjected  to  heat.    In  a  few  in- 
stances the  iron  is  combined  in  the  form  of  a 
sulphate,  and  in   others,   as   Berzelius  has 
shown,  it  imites  with  organic  acid,  in  the 
state  of  a  crenate  or  a  procrenate. 

Another  division  of  mineral  springs  is 
into  cold  and  thermal,  one  which  is  apphca- 
ble  to  all  of  the  four  great  classes,  for  we 
have  cold  and  thermal  acidulous,  cold  and 
thermal  saline,  &c. 

In  imitation  of  Bischof,  I  shall  use,  in 
these  pages,  the  term  thermaJ,  to  designate 
any  spring,  the  temperature  of  which  through- 
out the  year  is  steadily  above  that  of  the 
common  springs,  or  above  the  mean  tempe- 
rature of  the  soil,  of  the  district  in  which  it 
is  found. 


..1 


N^GS. 


OPINIONS  RESPECTING  THE;m:. 


17 


nth  ferro- 
3  is  blue, 
sit  gradii- 
e  of  iron. 
1  is  in  the 

dissolved 
ipitated  to 
tlie  clialy- 
)re  readily 

a  few  in- 
;  form  of  a 
zelius  has 
iid,  in  the 

springs  is 
is  applica- 
ses,  for  we 
;,  cold  and 

ill  iTbv:),  in 
)  designate 
shihrougli- 
that  of  the 
ean  tempe- 
in  which  it 


lie  who    desires   to   speak   of   Mineral 
AVatcrs  as  remedial  agents,  in  an  impartial 
manner,  finds  himself  somewhat  embarrassed 
between  two  extremes  of  opinion;  one  of 
which  inclines  to  a  belief  in  their  surprisino- 
and   almost   miraculously   healing  powers* 
the  other,  bordering  on  skepticism,  can  see 
nothing  in  even  the  admitted  beneficial  re- 
sults of  visits  to  watering  places   but   the 
working  of  imagination,  and   the   changes 
brought  about  by  travelling,  new  and  plea- 
sant  scenes,  regular  hours,   and  relaxation 
from  the  toils  of  labor,  and  the  cares  of  busi- 
ness.    The  first  extreme  can  only  be  treated 
as  a  modified  empiricism,  which  would  con- 
vert good  remedies,  under  properly  defined 
circumstances,  "nto  panaceas  of  universal  ap- 
plication, and   never  failing  efiicacy.      The 
skeptics,  on  the  other  hand,  require  to  be 
reasoned  with,  although,  in  truth,  their  argu- 
ments are  hardly  more  logical  than  those  of 
the  empirics. 

The  question,  after  all,  is  one  to  bo  deter- 
mined by  observation  and  experience.  Now 
it  is  an  undoubted  fact  that  many  mineral 
waters  hold  in  solution  ingredients  similar  to 

2* 


I 


■i 


If!   '1*^1 


r 


ksli' 


18        MINERAL  AND  THERMAL  SPRINGS. 

those  of  admitted  activity/which  we  find  in 
the  apothecary's  shop,  and  which  are  com- 
pounded  and  directed  according  to  formulas, 
laid  down  in  the  pharmacopoeia  and  the  dis- 
pensatory.   And  again,  it  is  equally  certain 
that  these  ingredients  are  often  in  such  quan- 
tities, in  the  waters,  as  to  produce  marked 
sensible  effects,  as  purgatives,  diiiretics,  dia- 
phoretics, and  antacids;   means  universally 
admitted  by   observing    physicians,   in   all 
ages,  to  be  those  by  which  a  large  circle 
of  diseases  is  combated  and  overcome.     But 
mineral  waters,  when  drank  in  certain  pre- 
scribed quantities,  and  when,  under  defined 
circumstances,  used  as  a  bath,  not  only  pro- 
duce the  therapeutical  effects  of  medicines 
obtained  from  the  shops,  but  they  do  it  with 
more  ease,  and  with  less  perturbation,  and 
even  in  a  painless  manner.     Shall  we  then 
deny  to  these  natural  compounds,  with  the 
admitted  adjuvants  of  better   air,  exercise, 
new  scenes,  and  pleasant  company,  a  power 
and  efficacy  which  is  so  readily  conceded  to 
them  in  a  sick  chamber  at  home,  with  its  too 
often  unavoidably  depressing  influences  and 
associations? 


GS. 

e  find  in 
are  corn- 
formulas, 
1  the  clis- 
y  certain 
Lcli  quan- 
marked 
etics,  dia- 
liversally 
s,   in   all 
•jre  circle 
lie.     But 
rtain  pre- 
)v  defined 
only  pro- 
medicines 
io  it  with 
ition,  and 
1  we  then 
,  with  the 
,  exercise, 
^,  a  power 
)nceded  to 
ith  its  too 
lenccs  and 


THEIR  EFFICACY  REAL. 


19 


Nor  do  we  find  the  cure  of  many  diseases 
at  watering  places,  by  drinking  the  waters, 
confined  to  those  who  have  left  the  crowded 
city  and  its  unwholesome  air.     The  inhabi- 
tants of  the  country  are  often  equally  bene- 
fitted by  the  same  course  of  treatment,  al- 
though they  cannot  be   said   to  enjoy  the 
additional  advantages  of  change  of  air  and 
of  rural  scenes  obtained  by  the  other  class. 
In  regard  to  the  state  of  the  mind,  and  par- 
ticularly an  active  imagination,  by  its  influ- 
ence on  the  body,  explaining  the  good  efifucts 
of  visits  to  mineral  springs,  we  do  not  find, 
by  any  means,  that  the  most  imaginative  arc 
they  who  report  the  most  favorably,  or  who 
exhibit  by  cures  in  their  own  persons,  the 
sanitary  powers  of  the  waters.     On  the  other 
hand,  the  dull,  unlettered  clown,  or  the  ex- 
acting logician  and  mathematician  will  often 
come  away  cured  of  their  dyspepsia,  torpid 
liver,  rheumatism,  or  long-endured  cutaneous 
disease,  by  drinking  these  waters,  without 
any   exercise    of   the    imaginative  facultv, 
either  to  have  relieved  or  persuaded  them 
that  they  had  found  relief;  and  to  whom  so- 
ciety would  be  more  irksome  than  agreeable. 


20        MINERAL  AND  THERMAL  SPRINGS. 


I 


^^  l) 


Animals,  moreover,  such  as  horses  and  cattle, 
and  do^s,  and  even  the  literal  swine  have 
been  evidently  cured  of  obstinate  maladies 
by  this  means,  without  our  being  able  to  di- 
vide the  credit  of  the  cure  with  country  air, 
change  of  food,  and  pleasant  company.  Wild 
animals,  prompted  by  conservative  instinct, 
resort  in  large  numbers  to  salt-sulphur 
springs  or  "licks,"  and  take  freely  the  un- 
palatable sulphureous  ingredients  for  the 
sake  of  th    saline. 

In  chronic  maladies,  the  physician  has  re- 
course, with  avowedly  good  effect,  and  on 
what  is  regarded  a  philosophic  basis,  to  the 
administration  of  medicines  in  minute,  but 
still  appreciable  quantities,  constituting  what 
is  called  the  alterative  practice.  In  these 
cases,  beneficial  results,  by  the  great  abate- 
ment or  entire  removal  of  disease,  are 
brought  about  in  a  slow  and  scarcely  sensi- 
ble manner,  without  ^  urging,  increased  diu- 
resis or  sweating.  So,  in  like  manner,  do 
mineral  waters,  if  their  ingredients  be  few 
and  of  no  great  activity,  or,  more  especially, 
if  small  quantities  of  the  stronger  ones  be 
efiven,  act  as  alterative  medicaments.    Time 


.^^ 


NGS. 

and  cattle, 
wine  have 
)  maladies 
able  to  di- 
)untry  air, 
anv.  Wild 
e  instinct, 
ilt-sulphur 
ly  the  im- 
;s    for   the 

ian  has  re- 
ct,  and  on 
asis,  to  the 
linute,  but 
ating  what 
In  these 
'eat  abate- 
isease,  are 
'cely  sensi- 
reased  diu- 
aanner,  do 
its  be  few 
especially, 
jr  ones  be 
Qts.    Time 


SENSIBLE  EFFECTS  OF. 


21 


is  an  important  element  for  the  amelioration 
or  curCj  whether  the  artificial  remedies  from 
the  shop,  or  the  natural  remedies  from  the 
great  subterranean  laboratory  be  the  means 
employed.  Not  unfrequently  weeks,  some- 
times months  will  elapse  after  the  invalid  has 
left  the  spring,  before  he  realizes  the  salu- 
tary operation  of  its  waters,  in  obviously 
amended  health,  and  greater  strength  and 
spirits;  and  yet  these  results  are  often  ob- 
tained, in  despite  of  the  counteracting  influ- 
ences of  return  to  the  old  habits  of  business, 
with  its  cares,  confinement  once  more  to  the 
city,  and  want  of  exercise  in  a  pure  air. 

The  sensible  changes  produced  in  the  blood 
and  the  secreted  fluids  by  the  ingestion  of 
certain  mineral  waters,  and  even  by  bathing 
in  them,  afford  strong  evidence  of  their  phy- 
siological action ;  and  would,  d  priori,  lead 
U3  to  infer  beneficial  therapeutical  efiects 
and  renovation  of  the  system,  which  had 
been  suffering  from  disease,  by  the  use  of 
the  same  means.  A  single  bath  in  the  hot 
waters  of  Yichy,  which  abound  in  carbon- 
ate of  soda  and  carbonic  acid,  renders  the 
fluids  even  of  gouty  persons  alkaline,  which 


?f' 


ll 


I 


1 

f       1   " 

\                  )  t 

22        MINERAL  AND  THERMAL  SPRINGS. 

had  been  previously  acid.  It  certainly  re- 
quires very  little  faitli  to  make  us  believe 
that  the  regular  use  of  these  waters,  internal- 
ly  and  externally,  for  a  month  or  two,  must 
powerfully  modify  the  morbid  state  of  the 
assimilating  functions,  as  in  gout  and  renal 
diseases ;  and  if  we  falter  in  our  anticipations 
of  good  in  this  way,  experience  comes  in  to 
rem.ove  all  doubts,  and  establish  our  favora- 
ble convictions. 

Skepticism  has  made  large  use  of  and  con- 
verted into  ridicule,  the  alleged  m3dicinal 
powers,  and  the  cures  brought  about  by 
means  of  certain  waters,  in  which  chemistry 
has  failed  to  detect  active  ingredients,  or,  if 
any,  these  were  in  such  small  quantities  as  to 
be,  it  is  thought,  necessarily  without  effect. 
To  this  it  may  be  replied,  that  cnemistry  is 
sometimes  at  fault,  for  a  considerable  period ; 
but,  ultimately,  with  improved  science  and 
more  delicate  processes,  therapeutical  agents 
of  great  energy  have  been  found  in  waters 
which  previously  had  been  believed  to  be 
pure  or  slightly  impregnated  with  foreign 
substances.  Among  these  agents  may  be 
mentioned  iodine  and  bromine,  and,  of  late 


!k. 


;ngs. 


MEDICINAL  PROPERTIES. 


23 


irtainly  re- 
us believe 
3,  internal- 
two,  must 
tate  of  the 
and  renal 
ticipations 
)mes  in  to 
lur  favora- 

)f  and  con- 
medicinal 
about  by 
chemistry 
lents,  or,  if 
itities  as  to 
lout  effect, 
aemistry  is 
ble  period ; 
cienee  and 
:ical  agents 
.  in  waters 
3ved  to  be 
itli  foreign 
ts  may  be 
md,  of  late 


years,   arsenic.     An   announcement  of  the 
presence  of  this  last  in  mineral  waters,  may 
startle  many  persons,  until  they  learn  that 
this  metal  is  in  such  minute,  but  still  appre- 
ciable proportions,  as  to  place  it  safely  on  the 
prescribing  list.     Small  as  are  the  doses  of 
arsenical  preparations,  in  our  existing  matena 
medica^  they  are  still  beyond  those  in  mine- 
ral waters  drank  in  the  ordinary  quantity. 
The  reference  is  made  at  this  time,  however, 
to  show  that  neither  the  sensible  properties  of 
certain  waters,  as  measured  by  taste  and  smell, 
nor  their  chemical  analysis,  when  furnishing 
negative  results,  are  proofs  of  the  absence  of 
medicinal  properties  and  curative  powers  in 
these  waters.     Accident  at  first,  sometimes 
the  experience  of  the  aborigines  on  the  spot, 
suggested  by  a  resort  of  the  wild  animals  of 
the  forest  to  the  springs ;  sometimes  the  tra- 
ditional, but  abiding  reputation  of  their  vir- 
tues among  the  country  people  around,  who 
had  used  them  in  certain  complaints  with  ob- 
vious benefit,  preceded  the  more  methodical 
trials  of  educated  and  scientific  inquirers, 
and  furnished  a  large  body  of  experimental 
proof,  which  ought  to  have  more  weight  in 


I 


24        MINERAL  AND  THERMAL  SPRINGS. 

guiding  US  to  a  riglit  decision,  than  all  tlie 
reasonings  and  deductions  from  data  of  an- 
other kind. 

The  most  practical  men,  as  many  of  our 
non-reading,  and  we  fear  we  must  add  un- 
read physicians,  love  to  be  called,  are  in  the 
habit  of  prescribing  preparations  of  iron  as  a 
tonic,  which  of  all  the  metals,  and  indeed  of  all 
the  medicines  of  this  class,  is  most  congenial 
with  the  organism,  and  which  exerts  in  many 
disorders  of  the  anemic  kind  such  benign 
and  renovating  effects.  Now  many  mineral 
waters  hold  in  solution  this  tonic,  and  in  the 
state,  too.  of  a  carbonate,  which  is  generally 
admitted  to  be  its  most  active  form,  and  one 
which  is  not  easily  retained  in  our  customary 
m.edicinal  preparations. 

HYGIENIC     PRECAUTIONS    IN   VISITS    TO   WA- 
TERING  PLACES. 

These  come  under  the  heads  of  clothing, 
diet,  sleep,  and  amusements.  In  our  climate, 
or  we  may  say  series  of  climates,  within  the 
limits  of  our  vast  confederacy,  no  person  of 
common  prudence  ought  to  leave  home,  for 
even    twenty-four    hours,   in    the    summer 


1 


NGS. 

xn  fill  the 
ata  of  an- 

Qy  of  our 
t  add  iin- 
are  in  the 
f  iroa  as  a 
ideed  of  all 
congenial 
;s  in  many 
ch  benign 
ly  mineral 
and  in  the 
;  generally 
n,  and  one 
customary 


:S    TO  AVA- 


f  clothing, 
ar  climate, 
within  the 
person  of 
5  home,  for 


3    summer 


ATTENTION  TO  CLOTHING. 


25 


months,  without  having  at  hand  a  change  of 
warm   clothing,  includmg   inner   garments, 
and  those  for  external  use  and  show.     Owinof 
to  the  situation  of  most  mineral  s^^rings  in 
valleys,  or  at  the  foot  of  a  lofty  range  or 
mountain,  the  air  of  the  place  is  cool  and  damp 
at  nights,  and  in  the  early  morn  and  evening, 
even  although  the  heat  may  have  been  con- 
siderable during  the  day.     It  becomes  neces- 
sary, therefore,  for  invalids  and  persons  of 
delicate  frames  to  guard  against  these  changes, 
which  are  still  more  trying  during  a  period 
of  rain  with  keen  easterly  winds.    No  matter 
what  may  be  the  malady  or  the  organ  affected, 
the  probability  of  cure  will  be  lessened  by 
checked  perspiration,  or  interference  with  the 
functions  of  the  skin,  so  that  it  is  chilled  or 
thrown  into  an  atonic  state  through  cold  and 
moisture.     If  the  happv  medium  of  tempe- 
rature cannot  be  preserved,  it  will  be  safer 
for  the  invalid  tr  keep  the  skin  moderately 
excited  by  flannel,  merino,  or  silk  worn  next 
to  ]t,  than  to  allow  it  to  be,  at  any  time,  cold, 
and  wanting  in  activity  of  capillary  circula- 
tion.    I  shall  not  enlarge  on  this  point  here, 
as  in  another  work  (Baths  and  the    Watern 
3  ^ 


2G        MINEKAL  AND  THERMAL  SPRINGS. 

Regimen)  I  have  spoken  in  detail  of  the  sen- 
sibility of  +>i<-  skin,  and  of  its  sympathies  with 
other  organs,  and  the  conditions  for  preserv- 
ing its  functions,  as  offered  in  clothing,  exer- 
cise, and  bathing.  The  exposure  encounter- 
ed by  persons  of  the  other  sex  in  putting  on 
light  attire,  and  leaving  the  arms  and,  at  least, 
the  neck  bare,  dancing  in  crowded  and  hot 
rooms,  with  an  occasional  escape  into  the 
piazza  and  its  cold  air  and  drafts,  brings  with 
ii  new  ailments  and  the  aggravation  of  old 
ones — a  result  foretold,  in  tones  of  warning 
and  often  of  earnest  entreaty,  but  which  are 
too  often  disregarded  or  laughed  at.  Laugh 
and  ridicule  and  disregard  the  laws  of  nature 
as  we  may,  we  cannot  escape  the  penalty  for 
their  infraction.  They  are  part  of  the  ordi- 
nances of  Nature's  God,  and  can  neither  be 
evaded  nor  abrogated  by  his  creatures. 

Althoug  .  it  is  not  often  necessary  in 
chronic  diseases,  as  met  with  in  invalids  at 
watering  places,  to  enforce  very  rigid  dietetic 
rules,  it  will  always  be  desirable  for  them 
to  avoid  extremes  and  excesses  in  the  quan- 
tity and  quality  of  the  food,  and  to  take  it 
at  hours,  as  nearly  as  may  be,  the  same  as 


Hi. 


^ 


NGS. 

>f  tlie  sen- 
,tliies  with 
>r  prcserv- 
ling,  exer- 
Dncoiinter- 
putting  on 
id,  at  least, 
i  and  hot 
)  into  the 
irin2;s  with 
:ion  of  old 
)f  warning 

which  are 
it.  Laugh 
s  of  nature 
penalty  for 
if  the  ordi- 
neither  be 
ures. 

icessary  in 
invalids  at 
^id  dietetic 
3  for  them 
1  the  quan- 

to  take  it 
ae  same  as 


PKOPER  DRINKS. 


27 


those  to  which  they  had  been  accustomed  at 
home.    The  selection  of  dishes  must  be  made 
with  due  regard  to  their  own  personal  expe- 
rience, not  of  what  they  like  as   palatable, 
but  of  what  they  know  to  be  easy  of  diges- 
tion.    As  a  general  rule,  the  drink  at  meals 
and  in  the  intervals  between  them  ought  to 
be  water  of  such  a  temperature  as  best  agrees 
with  the  stomach.     They  who  wish  to  give 
mineral  waters  a  fair  trial,  and  to  derive  the 
fullest  effects   from   their  excursion  to  the 
Spas,  will  abstain  from  alcoholic  drinks  of  all 
kinds,  not   excepting   the   sparkling  c^im- 
pagne  with  its  bubbling  imposition  and  huse- 
hoods,  persuading  the  credulous  drinker  that 
it  came  from  the  vine-clad  hills  of  France, 
when,  in  fact,  the  greater  part  of  it  first  sn,\v 
light  in  some  obscure  manufactory  of  focti- 
tious  liquors  at  home.     The  ladies,  on  their 
part,  will  have  to  practise  abstinence  from 
anotlicr  beverage,  the  decoction  of  the  Ara- 
bian berry,  as  it  is  phrased  by  poets  and  fine 
writers,  and,  in  the  vernacular,  coffee.    In  in- 
flammatory and  irritable  liabits,  and  in  those 
who  suffer  from  abdominal  congestions  and 
irregular  action  of  the  heart  in  either  sex, 


t  Mit 


iil 


28        :\[INERAL  AXD  THERMAL  SPRINGS. 

cofTeo  is  very  injurious.  The  nervous  and 
hysterical,  they  who  cannot  sleep,  and  who 
are  on  springs,  jerky  and  fidgety,  now  in  the 
seventh  heaven  of  sublimated  sentiment,  and 
again  in  the  depths  of  despondency,  com- 
plaining, and  begging  for  sympathy,  without 
offering  any  in  return,  will  have  to  abandon 
the  use  of  tea.    Tf  either  it   or  coffee   1 


De 


taken  at  all,  they  ought  to  receive  so  large 
an  addition  of  good  milk  or  cream  as  just  to 
allow  of  their  flavor  being  retained.  In  this 
way  the  drinker  may  escape  the  disturbing 
effects  of  these  beverages  on  the  nervous  and 
digestive  systems. 

Sleep,  like  other  true  friends,  is  most  wel- 
come when  it  comes  uninyited,  without  coax^ 
in  or  wooing,  as  it  generally  does  in  the 
evening,  after  due  exercise  and  rational 
amusements  during  the  preceding  day.  But 
sleep  can  hardly  be  expected  to  approach 
those  who  have  shut  it  out  at  the  customary 
hour  of  its  visit,  and  who  only  seek  it  after 
midnight,  with  their  hearts  beating  wild  yet 
weaklv,  their  temples  tlirobbing,  their  whole 
system^  heated,  excited,  and  jaded  by  the 
close  air  of  a  crowded  room,  and  pe  haps  the 


3. 

IS  and 
d  who 
in  the 
Qt,  and 
,  com- 
ithout 
►andon 


SLEEP — EXERCISE. 


29 


ee 


large 
just  to 
[n  this 
irbing 
IS  and 


t  Avel- 

COaX" 

n  the 
tional 
But 
roach 
)mary 
after 
d  yet 
kvhole 
Y  the 
)s  the 


rapid  whirl  of  the  waltz  and  the,  at  least,  not 
graceful  movements  of  the  exotic  polka, 
which,  we  must  hope,  will  soon  die  for  want 
of  cultivation  by  those  who  make  any  pre- 
tensions to  refined  taste. 

They  who  would  visit,  as  they  ought  to  do, 
the  mineral  spring  before  breakfast,  must  rise 
early,  which  implies  that  they  have  gone  to 
bed  in  proper  time,  so  as  to  allow  themselves 
eight  hours'  sleep.  Some  will  be  content 
with  six  hours.  This  will  be  the  minimum, 
as  the  first  mentioned  period  will  be  the  max- 
imum, compatible  with  health  and  Jue  due 
exercise  of  both  body  and  mind. 

Exercise,  both  as  regards  kind  and  amount, 
will  be  regulated  by  the  constitution  and 
practice  of  individuals  themselves,  provided 
they  had  been  in  the  habit  of  taking  daily 
exercise  at  home.  After  every  allowance 
made  for  individual  peculiarities  and  parti- 
cular infirmities,  it  may  be  laid  down,  as  a 
general  rule,  that  all  the  visitors  at  the 
springs  ought  to  take  daily  exercise  on  foot 
or  on  horseback;  the  time  and  distance  be- 
mg  such  as  to  prevent  a  feeling  of  much 
fatigue,  or  exhaustion.    In  fact,  exercise  and 

3^ 


!  r 


m 


mf 


BQ        MINERAL  AND  THERMAL  SPRINGS. 

recreation  ought  to  be  combined ;  and  amuse- 
ments, to  a  certain  extent,  should  come  under 
the  same  head.  Could  the  dance  be  enjoyed 
at  proper  hours,  adequate  space  and  ventila- 
tion being  obtained  at  the  same  time,  and 
the  dancers  attired  in  a  suitable,  easy-fitting 
dress,  it  might  come  under  both  the  heads 
just  designated.  Various  gymnastic  exercises 
for  the  men,  and  calisthenic  for  the  other  sex, 
so  arranged  that  they  could  be  taken  in  the 
same  enclosure,  would  increase  the  beneficial 
action  of  the  waters,  an- .  contribute  not  a 
little,  in  many  instances,  to  the  restoration 
of  invalids  to  health. 

No  active  exercise  should  be  taken  for,  at 
least,  an  hour  after  the  chief  meal,  nor  should 
a  bath  of  any  description  be  taken  until  a 
much  longer  period  has  elapsed  after  eating 
heartily.  The  better  time  for  both  is  in  the 
early  part  of  the  day. 


GS. 

d  amuse- 
ne  under 
enjoyed 
[  ventila- 
ime,  and 
3y-fitting 
le  Jieads 
exercises 
tlier  sex, 
3n  in  the 
)enciicial 
te  not  a 
sioration 

m  for,  at 
>r  should 
until  a 
)r  eating 
is  iu  the 


DRINKING  THE  WATERS. 


31 


CHAPTEE  II. 

Rules  for  drinking  mineral  -waters — Time  of  the  day — 
Best  in  the  morning  early — Repetition — Same  rule  for 
bathing— Quantity  drank— Different  temperatures  of 
the  water  drank— Cold— Tepid— Hot— Condition  of  the 
invalid  modifies  the  effects  of  the  waters— Bathing  while 
drinking  mineral  waters,  and  rules  for  the  use  of  the 
bath  at  different  temperatures— Division  of  baths. 

RULES  FOR  DRINKING  MINERAL  WATERS. 

As  travelling  is  always  productive  of  more 
or  less  febrile  excitement  and  fatigue,  the 
visitor  at  the  springs  ought  to  rest  a  day  or 
two  after  his  arrival,  before  he  begins  to 
drink  the  water.  A  warm  or  tepid  bath  may 
be  taken  in  the  meanwhile. 

The  proper  time  for  drinking  a  mineral 
water  is  early  in  the  morning,  an  hour  at 
least  before  breakfast,  when  the  stomach  is 
empty,  most  impressible,  and  most  readily 
transmits  the  effects  which  it  experiences  to 
the  other  organs.  The  water  ought  not  to  be 
drunk  when  the  stomach  is  eno^aired  in  the 


i     -    Si 

Sir  il 


!i  !  !1 


MINEEAL  AND  THERMAL  SPRINGS. 


i||i 


process  of  digestion,  and,  of  course,  not  for 
several  hours  after  a  meal,  especiallj  dinner. 
A  neglect  of   this  precaution  in  drinking 
mineralized  water,  not  only  prevents  its  salu- 
tary operation,  but  disturbs  digestion,  and  in- 
terferes wi^h  those  changes  which  the  food 
ought  to  undergo  in  the  stomach  to  prepare 
it  for  being  assimilated  to  the  fluids  of  the 
body,  and  especially  to  chyle,  or  first  blood. 
If  the  water  is  to  be  taken  a  second  lime 
in   the  day,  this  should   be  two  hours  be- 
fore dinner;  and  if  its  use  be  admissible  at 
all  in  the  evening,  it  can  only  be  on  condi- 
tion that  the  dinner  had  been  eaten  at  an 
early  hour,  we  will  suppose  one  o'clock,  and 
that  no  repast  had  been  subsequently  taken, 
except  perhaps  a  sandwich  or  a  biice  or  two 
of  bread  and  butter.    As  remarked  in  my 
first  work  on  the  subject,*  "  An  invalid  may 
drink  a  moderate  quantity  of  the  water  be- 
fore breakfast  with  comfort  and  advantage, 
but  not  be  able  to  do  the  same  before  dinner 
with  equally  good  effects.    Ho  may  be  able 
^;0  take  the  water    both   before  breakfast 
and  before  dinner,  and  yet  if  he  drink  in 


the 


^  On  Baths  and  Mineral  Water 


100-I 

-j,uol. 


day. 


5. 

Qot  for 
dinner, 
'inking 
ts  salu- 
and  in- 
be  food 
)repare 

of  the 
blood, 
id  lime 
irs  be- 
ible  at 
condi- 

at  an 
^k,  and 
taken, 
)r  two 
in  my 
d  may 
;er  be- 
mtage, 
dinner 
e  able 
jakfast 
ink  in 


THE  PKOPER  HOURS. 


83 


the  evening  he  will,  perhaps,  have  a  restless 
night,  and  be  worse  next  morning  than  he 
had  been  twenty-four  hours  before." 

If  modifications  of  the  rule  now  laid  down 
be  admissible,  it  will  be  in  the  case  of  the 
milder  mineral  waters,  such  as  the  acidulous, 
in  which  carbonic  acid  often  abounds,  and 
which  also  hold  in  solution  common  salt. 
But  the  strongly  saline,  the  sulphureous,  and 
the  chalybeate  cannot  be  drunk  with  impu- 
nity, either  on  a  full  stomach,  or  during  the 
time  of  stomachic  digestion,  and  before  the 
food  has  been  converted  into  the  somewhat 
homogeneous  mass  of  chyme,  and  has,  in 
great  part,  passed  out  of  the  stomach. 

The  same  rule,  precisely,  will  govern  in  the 
use  of  the  bath,  except  in  the  case  of  a  cold 
one,  which  should  not  be  taken  at  all  in  the 


evenmg. 


Imperfect  sleep  on  the  preceding  night,  or 
fatigue  and  languor  from  late  sitting  up  and 
dancing,  will  impede  not  a  little  the'expected 
effect  of  the  morning  draughts  of  mineral 
water,  and  if  it  be  of  the  purgative  class, 
ought  to  prevent  its  use  altogether  for  that 
day. 


;  3 


nfk 


34 


MINERAL  AND  THERMAL  SPRING h'. 


The  quantity  of  water  drunk  at  one  time 
must  depend  on  various  circumstances — its 
natuT-e,  strength  of  mineral  impregnation, 
condition  of  the  patient,  and  the  immediately 
sensible  effects  expected.  When  taken  with 
a  view  to  its  purgative  operation,  the  quantity 
will  be  much  more  tlian  when  an  alterative 
or  even  a  diuretic,  or  diaphoretic  effect  is  de- 
sired— supposing  always  that  the  same  water 
is  used  lo  meet  these  different  indications. 
But  where  others  of  less  activity  can  be 
drunk  in  quantity  without  oppressing  the 
stomach,  they  will  be  more  likely  to  act  on 
the  kidneys  and  skin,  and  promote  free 
secretions  from  these  organs. 

Modifications  of  effect  may  be  expected 
from  the  different  temperatures  at  which  min- 
eral waters  are  used.  Common  water,  when 
cold,  is  rapidly  absorbed,  saline  or  mine- 
ral but  slowly,  and  if  the  dose  be  consider- 
able, both  are  elimmatcd  through  the  kidneys. 
If  the  temperature  be  somewhat  raised,  so  as 
to  approach  the  degrees  of  tepidity,  the  sto- 
mach no  longer  receives  either  common  or 
mineral  water  with  the  same  complacency; 
and  if  they  do  not  cause  nausea,  they  excite 


mg. 


IH. 


nc  time 
ces — its 
lunation, 
3diately 
en  with 
uantitj 
terative 
it  is  de- 
le  water 
cations, 
can  be 
ing  the 
)  act  on 
to  free 

5:pected 
ch  min- 
r,  when 
'  mine- 
)nsider- 
idneys. 
J,  so  as 
he  sto- 
non  or 
icency; 
'  excite 


EFFECTS  VAEY  WITn  TEMPERATURE.      35 

this   organ   to   expel    them,  and   acting  in 
the   same  way  on  the   intestinal  tube,  they 
give  rise  to  a  purgative   operation.     At  a 
more  decidedly  elevated  temperature,  or  that 
which  brings  simple  water  to  the  standard  of 
hot,  it  is  again  better  borne  by  the  stomach, 
is  absorbed  freely,  and  excites  both  pulmo- 
nary  transpiration,    and   copious   sweating. 
When  the  water  is  saline  or  mineral  and  at 
a  high  temperature,  it  also  will  act  in  the 
same  vray  on  these  organs— lungs  and  skin- 
provided    the    impregnation    be    not   yery 
strong.     The  temperate   decree,    approach- 
ing the  tepid,  is  the  most  favorable  condi- 
tion for  mineral  water,  particularly  of  the 
sahne  class,  producing  a  purgative  effect,  as 
it  is  also  that  for  creating  nausea  and  vomit- 
ing.    In   both  instances,  it  stimulates   the 
muciparous  glands  to  increased  secretion. 

Certain  modifications  in  the  therapeutical 
action  of  mineral  waters,  and  of  other  medi- 
cinal substances,  will  depend  on  the  condi- 
tion of  the  invalid  at  the  time,  so  that  their 
powers  shall  be  exerted  on  one  organ  in  pre- 
ference to  another.  Thus  certain  saline  and 
vegetable  substances  will  either  cause  vomit= 


36        MINERAL  AND  THERMAL  SPRINGS. 


ing  or  sweating,  will  act  as  diuretics,  diapho- 
retics, or  expectorants,  according  to  the  state 
of  the  skin,  its  feverish  heat,  or  its  coldness, 
its  warmth  by  clothing,  or  its  exposure,  at 
the  time,  to  dampness  and  cold. 

If  the  water  be  too  cold  for  the  stomach, 
it  may  be  kept  in  corked  or  otherwise  well- 
closed  vessels,  in  the  room  of  the  invalid, 
until  it  acquires  the  temperature  of  the  air, 
or,  if  need  be,  immersed  in  warm  water,  so 
as  to  render  it  slightly  tepid. 

BATHING  IN  CONNECTION  WITH   THE   DRINK- 
.  ING   OF  MINERAL   WATERS. 

I  alluded,  in  a  preceding  page,  to  the 
prominent  part  which  bathing  was  made 
to  perform  in  the  medical  treatment  of  in- 
valids at  the  watering  places  of  France,  and 
still  more  of  Germany.  In  similar  places  in 
the  United  States,  the  bath  is  either  entirely 
neglected  or  is  regarded  as  a  thing  of  second- 
ary or  small  moment;  and  hence  the  defective 
arrangements  in  this  particular,  at  most  of 
our  mineral  springs.  The  bath  houses,  when 
constructed,  are  too  often  small,  damp,  and 
gloomy,  and  placed  out  of  the  way,  instead 


^i 


BULES  FOR  BATHING. 


87 


of  being  near  to,  if  not  directly  connected 
with  the  springs,  or  the  main  building  in 
wliich  the  visitors  take  up  their  ab^'ode. 
There  is  seldom  adequate  provision  made  for 
that  most  important  variety  of  the  batli,  the 
douche,  which,  at  different  temperatures,  cold, 
warm,  or  hot,  is  so  powerful  an  agent  in  the 
cure  of  many  diseases. 

The  temperature  and  duration  of  the  bath 
will,  of  course,  vary  with  the  degree  of  vas- 
cular excitement  and  heat  of  the  skin  of  the 
invalid,  as  well  as  with  the  indications  which 
are  proposed  to  be  fulfilled  by  drinking  the 
waters.    When  the  saline  aperient  waters  are 
employed  with  a  view  to  diminish  plethora 
and  the  remains  of  febrile  excitement,  the 
temperate   or  even  the  tepid  bath  will  be 
found  the  best  adjuvant;  the  stay  in  it  short. 
So,  also,  when   acidulous  waters  are  criyen 
with  reference  to  an  alterative  action,  and 
especially  where  it  is  intended  to  promote 
the  secretion  from  the  kidneys,  baths  of  this 
kind  will  be  found  serviceable.     The  action 
both  of  purgatives  and  diuretics  is  favored 
by  cool  skm,  so,  on  tlie  other  hand,  their 
operation  would  bo  retarded  and  rendered 


iJttgJH 


38 


MINERAL  AND  THERMAL  SPRINGS. 


Ui 


incomplete,  by  stimulating  this  organ,  as  in 
the  case  where  baths  of  a  high  temperature 
are  had  recourse  to. 

AVhcn  it  is  desired  to  keep  up  a  full  capil- 
lary circulation  in  the  skin,  and  to  favor  insen- 
sible perspiration,  so  as  to  allay  irritation  and 
prevent  any  vascular  strain  on  internal  tis- 
sues and  organs,  the  warm  bath  will  be  found 
the  most  appropriate  means  for  the  purpose. 
It  will  be  used  auxiliary  to  alterative  doses 
of  sulphureous  w^aters,  and  to  the  tonic  treat- 
ment by  chalybeates,  in  those  cases  in  which 
the  latter  are  used  for  the  relief  of  languor, 
debility,  a  pale  and  dry  skin,  and  a  soft  and 
rather  feeble  pulse.  In  other  cases  of  feeble- 
ness of  function,  with  a  hot  skin  and  febri- 
cula,  the  cool  or  temperate  bath  does  good 
service. 

When,  again,  we  wish  to  excite  the  skin  to 
free  secretion,  by  converting  sensible  into  in- 
sensible perspiration,  and  to  stimulate,  also, 
a  languid  circulation  and  organism  generally, 
as  in  chronic  rheumatism  and  atonic  gout, 
anemia  and  chloiosis,  not  complicated  with 
inflammation  of  an  organ,  scaly  diseases  of 
the 'skin,  of  long  standing,  atonic   dropsy. 


DIVISION  OF  BATHS. 


89 


simple  paralysis  without  evident  cerebral 
lesion,  and  indolent  glandular  and  other  swel- 
^.ings,  the  hot  bath,  from  100°  to  120°  F.,and 
the  hot  douche  will  be  found  to  aid  power- 
fully the  stimulating  and  alterative  effects  of 
sulphureous  waters. 

^  Differences  in  the  temperature  and  dura- 
tion of  the  bath  will  grow  out  of  the  proper- 
ties of  the  mineral  waters  employed  for  the 
purpose.  Sulphureous  waters,  for  instance, 
excite  the  skin  and  system  generally  more 
than  others. 

Division  of  Baths.— As  there  is  still  a  too 
general  ignorance  of  the  actual  temperatures 
of  the  received  divisions  of  baths— cold,  warm 
and  hot,  in  which  not  a  few  medical  men  par- 
ticipate, it  cannot  be  deemed  amiss  to  intro- 
duce here  the  table  which  will  be  found,  also, 
in  my  work  already  referred  to.^^ 


1.  The  cold  bath 

2.  The  cool  bath 

3.  The  temperate  bath 

4.  The  tepid  bath 

5.  The  warm  bath 

6.  The  hot  bath 


from  33°  to  60°  F. 
60°  to  70° 
75°  to  85° 
85°  to  92° 
92°  to  98° 
98°  to  112° 


*  Baths  and  the  Watery  Regimen. 


it  I    ■l}l 


ii 


40 


FUNERAL  AXD  TIIEKMAL  SPKINGS. 


Tlio  only  upwiircl  limit  of  the  hot  bath, 
is  tliat  of  tolerance  by  the  living  body  im- 
mersed in  it.     As  regards  the  eflects,  in  a 
general  way,  of  these  several  kinds  of  baths, 
we  may  speak  of  them  under  two  divisions, 
tlierapeutically  considered.  In  the  first,  from 
warm  down  to  cold,  we  shall  find  a  calming 
and  soothing  operation  continued,  witli  the 
reduced  temperature   of  the   water,   to  the 
most  depressing  sedative — in  fact  a  reduc- 
ing  power;    and   in   the   second   from   the 
upper  degree  of  warmth,  a  stimulating  and 
strongly  exciting  operation.      What  a  mis- 
chievous error,  therefore,  is  the  too  common 
one  of  confounding  a  warm  with  a  hot  bath, 
and  directing  the  one  for  the  other,  as  if  they 
were  convertible  terms  expressing  the  same 
thing,  instead  of   being   in  direct   contrast 
with  each  other.     It  may  serve  to  indicate 
the   striking   difference   between  the  warm 
bath  and  the  hot  batli,  when  I  say  that  the 
first  is  a  grateful  hygienic  agent  which  al- 
most every  body  can  make  use  of  with  bene- 
fit, in  addition  to  its  employment  as  a  thera- 
peutical one   in   the   treatment  of   disease; 
whereas  the  hot  bath  is,  or  ought  to  bo,  a 


II 


3 

f 


ADDITIONAL  SUBJECT. 


41 


remedial  agent  to  be  used  solely  in  disease, 
and  even  then  with  considcraLle  caution  and 
discernment.  I  shall  have  something  farther 
to  say  on  this  subject  when  speaking  of  the 
thermal  springs  of  Yirginia.-' 

*  There  is  yet  one  point  connected  with  sanitary  ar- 
rangements and  the  accommodutions  of  Tisitors  which 
requires  reform,  viz :  that  rchiting  to  water-closets  and 
anakigous  cabinets,  which  are  placed  so  often  at  most  in- 
convenient distances  from  the  main  house,  and  which  arc 
very  defective  on  the  score  of  ventilation  and  cleanliness. 
A  hint  might  be  taken  from  the  arrangements  in  these 
matters  at  the  celebrated  Baden-Baden  Springs. 


4* 


42        MINERAL  AND  THERMAL  SPRINGS. 


CHAPTER  HI. 

First  effects  of  drinking  mineral  waters— Secondary  and 
remote  effects— Diseases  in  which  they  are  employeu— 
Five  classes  mentioned  by  a  committee  of  the  French 
Academy  on  the  subject- Comparative  results  in  dif- 
ferent diseases— Two  great  classes  of  invalids— The 
plethoric  in  the  first— Sufferers  from  fever,  disorders 
of  the  digestive  apparatus,  direct  and  secondary,  bron- 
chial disorders,  rheumatism,  nervous  and  skin  and 
uterine  diseases  in  the  second  class. 

FIRST   EFFECTS   OF  DRINKING    MINERAL  TVA- 

TERS. 

It  is  not  at  all  uncommon  for  persons,  after 
drinking  a  mineral  water  or  using  a  warm, 
and  still  more,  a  hot  bath  for  a  few  days,  to 
complain  of  fulness  of  the  head,  or  headache, 
lassitude,  disordered  digestion,  with  white 
tongue  and  some  degree  of  fever,  accom- 
panied by  eruptions  on  the  skin.  This  is  a 
state  which  the  German  writers  call  "  Bath 
Storm,"  or  "Crisis,"  and  others  "Satura- 
tion." It  will  generally  disappear  by  in- 
creased discharges  from  the  bowels,  or  by  a 


i4 


FIRST  EFFECTS  OF  THE  WATERS.  43 


copious  sweat,  sometimes  by  diuresis :  it  is 
regarded  by  these  writers  as  salutary,  and  by 
not  a  few  as  aD   .-evidence  of  the  curative 
powers  exerted  by  the  mineral  or  balneatory 
medication.    Looking  at  mineral  waters  as, 
with  few  exceptions,  exciting  in  their  first 
effects,  we  must  be  prepared  for  some  disturb- 
ance of  the  kind  just  described,  and  either 
suspend  for  a  wnile  the  use  of  the  water,  or 
greatly  diminish  its  quantity,  or  even  dilute 
it  by  the  addition  of  common  water;  or,  as  is 
done  in  some  parts  of  the  continent  of  Europe, 
add  to  it  v;hey  or  simple  mucilaginous  drinks. 
Precautions  of  this  nature  are  most  necessary 
in  the  case  of  sulphureous  and  chalybeate 
waters.     The  simpler  plan  will  be,  to  abstain 
for  two  or  three  days  from  the  use  of  the  water, 
and  not  to  be  too  eager  to  remove  the  arti- 
ficial, feverish,  or  other  disturbance  by  very 
active  or  decidedly  reducing  treatment;  but 
rather  minister  to  these  cases  as  we  would  to 
one  which  might  occur  at  the  conclusion  of 
an  ordinary  fever.   Eeauced  diet,  diluent  and 
demulcent  drinks,  and  a  moderately  warm 
bath  of  92°  F.  will  commonly  suffice. 
In  reference  to  the  secondary  and  remote. 


u 


:mixeral  and  thermal  springs. 


and   avowedly   salutary  effects   of  mineral 
waters,  wlien  we  reflect  on  the  large   mucous 
surface  of  the  entire  digestive  canal,  to  every 
portion  of  which  they  are  applied  and  by 
which  they  are  freely  absorbed,  thus  reach- 
ing all  the  tissues  of  the  animal  frame ;  and 
bearing  in  mind,  also,  the  number  and  variety, 
and  often  potency  of  the  ingredients  which 
enter  into  their  composition,  we  are  prepared 
to  echo  the  language  of  a  French  writer^'  on 
the  subject,  w'  en  he  says :  "  In  general,  mine- 
ral waters  revive  the  languishing  circulation, 
give  a  new  direction  to  the  vital  energies,  re- 
establish the  perspiratory  action  of  the  skin, 
bring  back  to  their  physiological  type  the 
vitiated  or  suppressed   secretions,   provoke 
salutary  evacuations,  either  by  urine  or  stool, 
or  by  transpiration:  they  bring  about  an  in- 
timate transmutation,  a  profound  change  in 
the  organism ;  they  saturate  the  sick  body, 
to  make  use  of  the  energetic  expression  of  a 
modern  author.     How  many  persons,  aban- 
doned by  their  physicians,  have  found  health 
at  mineral  springs !    How  many  individuals, 
exhausted  by  violent  diseases,  have  recover- 

•^  Pateissier,  Sur  Ics  Eaux  Mincra'es. 


DISEASES  IX  WHICH  USED. 


45 


ed,  by  a  journej^  to  mineral  springs,  their 
tone,  ready  movements  and  energy,  to  restore 
wliich,  attempts  in  other  ways  might  have 
been  made  with  less  certainty  of  success !" 

DISEASES    IX    WHICH    EECOUESE    IS    HAD    TO 
MINERAL   WATERS. 

These  are  almost  as  numerous  as  the  entire 
nosological  series  of  the  chronic  kind ;  but 
the  number  for  which  reasonable  hopes  of 
cure   can  be   entertained,  is   comparatively 
limited,  or  rather  the  classes  of  diseases  are 
not  many.     They  consist  of  those  of  tlie  di- 
gestive  system,  in   themselves,    however,   a 
host;   of  the  cutaneous  and  fibrous  systems  ; 
and  of  the  glands,  secretory  and  lymphatic  ' 
and  finally  of  the  nervous  system.  Under  the 
first  head  comes  dyspepsia,  with  its  multifari- 
ous features  and  sympathies,  including  alfec- 
tions  of  the  throat,  and  gastric,  duodenal  and 
colonic  dyspepsia,  then  entcralgia  and  chro- 
nic  diarrhoea  and  dysentery,  constipation,  and 
hemorrhoids.      Under  the   second  liead  we 
meet  with  a  great  variety  of  chronic  erup- 
tions, some  of  them  associated  with  and  repre- 
sentiug  antecedent  diseases,  such  as  syphilis, 


46        MINERAL  AXD  THERMAL  SPRINGS. 


scrofula,  scurvy,  kc.    The  fibrous  system  ex- 
hibits riieumatism  and  gout,  as  their  iirmedi- 
ate  seat ;  but  its  lesions  are  intimately  associ- 
ated, in  these  diseases,  with  derangements  and 
often  violent   disturbances  of  the  digestive 
system,  heart,  and  brain.    The  great  glands 
auxiliary  to  digestion,  the  liver  and  pancreas, 
and   that   physiological  puzzle,  the   spleen, 
particularly  the  first   and   third  mentioned 
organs,  are  often  the  seats  of  congestion  and 
inflammation,  which,  when   they  have   run 
into  a  chronic  form,  are  much  benefited  by 
certain  mineral  waters.    Another  great  gland 
as  it  is  sometimes  viewed,  the  uterus,  which 
makes  the  chief  sexual  distinction,  is  often 
disturbed  and  chronically  diseased,  and  re- 
quires for  its  relief  the  combined  operation 
of   bathing   and   the   drinking   of    mineral 
waters.      The    diseases    of   the    lymphatic 
glands,  so  prominent  in  scrofula,  are  rather 
effects  of  a  pre-existhig  condition  of  other 
parts,  as  those  of  the  mesentery  arc  of  en- 
teric disease,  than  primary  maladies.     They 
belong,  also,  to  the  morbid  development  of 
the  scrofulous   diathesis.      Diseases   of  the 
nervous  system  occupy  a  prominent  place  in 


.« 


m  ANEMIA  AXD  CHLOROSIS. 


47 


^y 


nosology,  in  which  they  are  placed  more 
with  reference  to  certain  symptoms,  effects 
merely,  than  to  their  organic  seat,  or  the  or- 
ganic lesions  which  give  rise  to  them.  The 
two  opposite  conditions  of  morbid  sensibility 
and  mobility,  with  irregular  spasmodic  and 
convulsive  movements,  and  of  anaesthesia 
and  paralysis,  are  both  of  them  deemed  fit- 
ting subjects  for  the  use  of  mineral  waters, 
and  of  bathing;  for,  to  insure  success  on  such 
occasions,  both  of  these  therapeutical  agen- 
cies ought  to  be  enlisted,  but,  of  course,  with 
differences  in  the  composition  of  the  waters 
and  the  temperature  of  the  bath. 

In  what  is  rather  vaguely  termed  anemir^ 
or  anemic  condition  of  the  system,  depend- 
ing, as  is  believed,  on  a  deficiency  of  red 
globules  of  the  blood,  although  it  may  be 
preceded  by  local  inflammation,  and  be  asso- 
ciated with  plethora,  mineral  waters  particu^ 
larly  of  the  chalybeate  class,  have  acquired 
great  reputation.  The  same  may  be  said  of 
chlorosis,  which  is  characterized  by  similar 
derangements  of  function,  in  addition  to  the 
one  which  makes  it  more  peculiarly  a  disease 
of  women. 


"if 


m 


48 


MINERAL  AXD  TIIERIMAL  SPEINGS. 


I    fi 


In  a  report  on  the  subject,  made  by  a  com- 
mittee of  the  French  Academy,  for  the  years 
1833,  1834,  and  1835,  we  are  told  that  the 
diseases,  for  the  benefit  of  which  invalids  re- 
sort to  mineral  springs  in  France,  are  few  in 
number.  They  are,  first,  rheumatism  in  all 
its  forms,  the  subjects  of  which  make  up 
nearly  a  third  of  the  entire  number  of  inva- 
lid visitors.  At  some  springs  they  are  in  the 
proportion  of  half,  in  others  two-thirds  of 
this  class.  The  next  arc  the  nervous  or 
nervous  derangements,  augmented  sensibility, 
with,  often,  spasm  of  the  digestive  and 
other  systems.  On  the  third  line  are  chronic 
inflammations  of  the  mucous  and  serous  sys- 
tems, a  large  class,  comprehending  those  of 
the  digestive  and  respiratory  apparatus,  and 
of  the  uterine  and  urinar3'-  organs,  and  neu- 
ralgias. At  some  springs,  paralyses  and  dis- 
eases of  the  skin,  constituting,  as  it  were,  a 
specialty,  present  themselves;  after  which 
come  old  wonnds,  false  anchyloses,  and  lym- 
phatic engorgements.  Beyond  these  live 
classes  we  only  meet,  the  committee  allecres, 
with  a  few  other  cases  of  disease  at  mineral 
springs. 


THE  DISEASES  CURfeD. 


49 


The  "^ata  on  which  these  divisions  and  pro* 
portions  are  made  are  furnished  by  the  an- 
nual returns  of  the  medical  inspectors— resi- 
dent physicians — at  a  great  number  of  water- 
ing places  in  France.   From  the  same  quarters 
we  learn  the  relative  efficacy  of  the  waters  in 
tlie  different  diseases  of  those  who  made  use 
of  them.    They  are  represented  to  be  quite  cer- 
tain in  rheumatism,  tolemlly  sure  for  neural- 
gias  and  neuroses,  nearhj  null  for  parah  sis, 
and  not  iinfrequenthj  useful  for  affections  of 
the  skin  and  joints.     But  there  must  be  some 
fallacy  in  this  show  of  calculation,  for  we  can- 
not suppose  chronic  rheumatism  to  be  cured 
with  the  frequency  that  is  alleged  by  some 
physicians  at  the  springs ;  and  our  doubts  are 
strengthened   by  the   fac.   of  the   repeated 
visits,  annually,  of  the  same  persons  to  the 
same  springs  with  their  old  disease. 

In  appealing  to  the  experience  of  conti- 
nental  Europe  for  the  effects  of  mineral 
waters,  we  must,  however,  bear  constantly 
in  mind  the  flict,  that  the  treatment  at  most 
of  the  springs  consists  both  in  drinking  the 
waters  and  in  bathing.  Often,  especially  in 
Germany,  the  greatest  and  sometimes  sole 


5 


t-jt^ 


50        MINERAL  AXD  THERMAL  SPRINGS. 

Stress  is  laid  on  the  latter  kind  of  medica- 
tion.  In  the  United  States,  there  are  few 
attempts  made  at  any  methodical  combina- 
tion of  these  two  means  of  cure ;  the  bath 
being  used  only  on  occasions,  irregularly, 
and  most  of  the  time  according  to  the 
caprices  of  the  patient.  It  is  very  desirable 
that  physicians  should  take  some  pains  to 
inform  themselves  of  the  value  and  syste- 
matic method  of  using  the  bath  at  various 
temperatures,  and  not  allow  the  impression 
to  go  abroad  that  the  community  must  look 
to  hydropatiiists  and  steam  doctors  for  the 
desired  therapeutical  aids  obtainable  from 
this  source. 

^  We  may,  it  seems  to  me,  divide  into  two 
crreat  classes  the  invalids  who  resort  to 
mineral  springs  in  the  United  States  for 
the  relief  or  cure  of  their  diseases.  They 
are,  first,  those  who  labor  under  plethora 
or  preternatural  fulness  of  the  bloodvessels, 
and  particularly  of  the  veins,  with  deter- 
mination and  accumulation  of  blood  in  one 
or  more  organs,  keeping  them  in  a  criti- 
ca'l  state  of  distension,  and  liability,  at  any 
moment,  either  from  the  extreme  eflects  of 


TF^ 


DISEASES  FROM  PLETHOEA. 


51 


Tm 


common  hygienic  causes,  or  from  morbific 
ones,  to  run  into  congestion  and  inflamma- 
tion, or  rupture  of  bloodvessels,  in  the  early 
and  more  acute  stage  of  disease,  and  into 
congestion  with  effusion  of  serum,   in   the 
subacute   and   chronic   stage.     Often,   with 
plethora,  is  associated  activity  of  the  assimi- 
lating  and  nutritive  functions,  and  large  de- 
posits of  fat  in  particular  regions.     But  this 
last  is  not  so  much  an  evidence  of  health  as 
a  means  by  which  the  bloodvessels  relieve 
themselves,  through  the  assistance  of  the  se- 
cretions in  the  tissues,  of  superabundant  mate- 
rial,  the  retention  of  which  would  be  peril- 
ous, if  not  fatal,  to  the  organism.     This  large 
deposition  of  oily  matter  or  adeps  is,  in  fact, 
a  variety  of  dropsy,  a  disease  of  itself,  but 
which  serves  to  ward  oif  more  disastrous  re- 
sults.   Apoplexy,  some  forms  of  asthma  and 
oppression  of  breathing,  irregular  action  of 
the  heart,  congested  liver,  and  piles,  are  other 
more  fatal  or  distressing  manifestations  of  the 
state  of  plethora.     Eheumatism  and  gout,  in 
their  early  stages  and  more  acute  forms,  are 
the  results  of  an  eilbrt  of  nature  to  relieve 
the  excessive  fulness  and  plethora  of  the  in- 


05 


m 


52        MINEEAL  AND  THERMAL  SPRINGS. 

ternal,  especially  tlie  digestive  and  assimi- 
lating organs,  by  determination  to  external 
parts.  Certain  inflammatory  eruptions  on 
the  skin,  such  as  boils  and  other  pustular  af- 
fections, are  efforts  of  a  similar  kind. 

No  better  means  of  relief  can  be  offered 
in  plethora,  with  its  various  manifestations 
and  thr eaten ings,  as  now  sketched,  than  the 
employment  of  mineral  waters  of  the  saline 
aperient  class,  with  the  addition  of  carbonic 
acid,  and  a  slight  chalybeate  impregnation, 
which  excite  copious  secretions  from  the  in- 
testinal canal,  without  irritation,  and  without 
weakening,  while  at  the  same  time  they  dimin- 
ish the  undue  amount  of  blood,  and  carry  off 
redundant  humors.  It  would  be  taking  quite 
too  limited  a  view  of  the  operation  of  these 
waters  to  suppose  that  they  merely  act  as 
purgatives,  by  emptying  the  bowels  of  accu- 
mulations in  them.  They  are  also  depura- 
tives  and  deobstruents,  and  produce  critical 
evacuations  from  the  entire  mucous  surface, 
thus  relieving  congestions  of  the  mucous 
membrane,  and  of  the  liver  and  other  abdo- 
minal organs,  by  an  augmented  activity  of 
physiological  action,  rather  than  by  irritating 


IM 


ttif! 


ABDOMINAL  PLETHORA. 


m 


and  disturbing,  as  common  drastic  purgatives 
do.  The  first  are  retained  and  absorbed,  and 
increase  the  appetite  and  strength ;  the  second, 
as  foreign  and  irritating  substances,  are  ex- 
pelled with  pain  and  effort,  as  would  be 
deleterious  substances. 

^  We  must  suppose,  however,  that  the  be- 
nign operation  of  the  waters  is  aided  by  an 
amended  regimen,  and  a  change  in  the  habits 
of  the  plethoric  and  of  those  predisposed  to 
or  suffering  from  some  one  or  more  of  the  dis- 
orders above  mentioned.     These  persons  are 
found,  in  considerable  proportion,  among  the 
luxurious  and  over-fed,  who  have  slept^  too 
much   and  exercised   too  little.     The  most 
common  variety  of  plethora  is  the  abdomi- 
nal,  on  which  the  German  physicians  lay  so 
much  stress,  and  to  which  they  refer  a  long 
list  of  derangements  of  the   digestive   and 
uterine  systems,  and,  finally,  nervous  disor- 
ders.     There  may  be  seen  among  ourselves 
counterparts  of  the  "fat  abdominous  and  mid- 
dle aged  Germans,  who  live  sensual,  sedentary 
lives,  eating  and  drinking  gluttonouslv,  and 
smoking   incessantly,"  who,  like  the  Latter, 
must  find  relief  by  throwing  off,  with  the  aid 


-*-i 


5^ 


ws 


h 


54        MINERAL  AXD  THERMAL  SPRIXGS. 

of  mineral  waters,  -'tlie  perilous  stuff"  wliicli 
oppresses  tbcm. 

The  second  and  largest  class  of  invalids 
wbo  visit  mineral  springs  and  oilier  watering 
places,  suffer  from  tlie  remains  of  fever,  dis- 
eases of  the  digestive  canal  and  its  append- 
ages, bronchial  and  laryngeal  irritations,  and 
couglis  of  long  duration,  rheumatism,  irreg- 
ular gout,  and  nervous  disorders ;  sometimes 
paralysis,  and  often  cutaneous  eruptions.  In 
this  class  are  females  affected  with  derange- 
ments of  the  uterine  system,  in  addition  to 
their  share  of  the  other  maladies  on  the  list. 
Were  we  to  seek  for  the  chief  seat  and 
centre  of  the  diseases  above  mentioned,  we 
should  undoubtedly  find  it  in  the  digestive 
apparatus,  and  especially  the  alimentary  ca- 
nal, which  is  made  to  suffer  so  much  and 
so  long  by  a  daily,  and  often  thrice  repeated 
in  the  day,  load  of  heterogeneous  articles 
of  food  and  drink,  and  which,  in  conse- 
quence, spreads  by  sympathetic  radiation, 
its  uneasiness  and  disorders  to  nearly  all 
parts  of  the  living  frame.  What  with  much 
eating  and  fast  eating  of  gross  food,  and 
drinking  of  spirituous  and  other  liquors,  and 


DISEASED  DIGESTIVE  ORGANS. 


55 


smoking  and  clievvir/r  of  tobacco,  not  to 
speak  of  drinking  coffot  in  any  quantity,  the 
digestive  organs  of  our  people  are  sorely 
tried  in  a  direct  manner,  while,  indirectly  or 
reilectedly,  they  are  made  to  suffer  by  inat- 
tention to  the  functions  of  the  skin,  which 
has  so  close  a  sympathy  with  the  stomach 
and  bowels,  and,  most  of  all,  by  the  continued 
excitement  and  strain  to  which  the  brain  and 
senses  are  exposed  in  the  eager,  unceasing, 
and  anxious  struggle  for  wealth,  and  the 
ambitious  longings  for  political  distinction 
and  office.  The  life  of  toil,  and  the  feverish, 
almost  insane,  thirst  for  gold  at  "the  dig- 
gings" and  in  the  mines,  meet  with  their 
counterparts,  under  other  names  and  with 
different  manifestations,  nearer  home. 

^Ye  cannot  wonder,  with  a  knowledge  of 
these  causes,  in  which  we  must  include  a  most 
vaxiable  climate,  or  rather  contrasted  climates 
in  the  same  region,  that  congestion  and  irrita- 
tion of  thedigestive  mucous  membranes  should 
be  so  common,  and  be  exhibited  under  such  a 
variety  of  symptoms,  which  are  grouped  un- 
der the  names  of  different  diseases ;  and  that 
inflammation  itself,  in  a  chronic  form,  should 


o6 


MINERAL  AND  TIIEIUIAL  SPRINGS. 


be  far  from  uncommon.    The  portal  circula- 
tion is  retarded,  and  secretions  from  the  liver 
are  scanty  and  imperfect.     With  imperfect 
digestion  there  must  be  also  imperfect  san- 
guification.    The  complexion  is  pale  or  sal- 
low, or  of  a  brown  or  an  ashy  hue ;  some- 
times the  skin  is  suffused  with  bile.     The 
kidneys  perform  their  functions  imperfectly, 
and  according  to  the  predominance  of  the 
diathesis,  the  urine  shows  either  lithic  acid,  or 
phosphate  of  lime  and   magnesia,  deposits. 
Sometimes  constipation,  sometimes  diarrhoea 
is  present;  and  gastric  or  intestinal  neural- 
gia, and  colic,  with  the  passage  of  biliary 
calculi,  torment  the  invalid.    A  foul  and  dry, 
or  a  loaded  pasty  tongue,  nausea  and  vomit- 
ing even,  indicate  the  disordered  state  of  the 
stomach,   which    is    oppressed,    and    often 
thrown  into  spasmodic  contractions  by  food, 
which  in  a  healthy  state  of  the  organ  would 
have  been  easily  digested.     In  females,  the 
uterine  functions  are  deranged  ;  menstruation 
is  irregular  or  suspended,  and  leucorrhooa  adds 
to  the  feeling  of  exhaustion,  while  chlorosis 
completes  the   sombre   picture  of  languor, 
apathy,  and  discouragement.    The  cnmplex- 


•^. 


IRRITATED  BRAIN". 


57 


i 


ion  in  tliis  last  disease  is  emblematic  of  the 
frame  of  mind,  and  the  spirits  of  the  invalid 
herself.     The  brain,  which  may  at  first  ha "o 
sent  by  its  nerve-conductors  to  the  stomach, 
annoying  and   disturbing    messages    of    its 
functional  fretting,  and  cares,  and  vigils,  and 
wild    transports   of  joy   or   a  iger,  receives 
back,  by  similar  means,  with  h.rge  interest, 
from  the  fatigued,  and  worried,  and  irritated, 
and,  it  may  be,  inflamed  stomach,  a  crowd  of 
unexpected  and  abnormal  impressions,  whi^h 
become  the  sources  of  strange  sensations  and 
imaginings,  as  we  see  pictured  in  hypochon- 
driasis and  hysteria,  and  of  strange  move- 
ments, as  in  chorea,  epilepsy,  and  in  other 
ways ;  also  in  headache,  vertigo,  ringing  in 
the  ears,  want  of  sleep,  low  spirits,  languor, 
and  dis'nclination,  and  still  more,  inability 
to  take  much  exercise. 

This  simplified  pathology,  which  teaches  us 
to  regard  so  many  seemingly  different  dis- 
eases as  radiations  from  a  common  centre, 
allows  us  to  recommend,  without  incurring 
the  charge  of  empiricism,  a  class  of  reme° 
dies,  such  as  we  find  in  mineral  waters,  whose 
operation,  first  and  m.ainly  manifested  at  the 


»f.i 


i'- 


58        MINERAL  AND  THERMAL  SPRINGS. 

cuntrc  or  the  digestive  system,  is  subsequent- 
ly diU'uscd  tlirougli  the  entire  organism.  By 
causing  copious  secretions  from  the  extended 
mucous  surftices,  they  reheve  the  congestion 
of  the  mucous  membranes,  restore  the  proper 
activity  of  the  portal  circulation,  and  amend 
the  biliary  secretions ;  and  while  renovating 
the  digestive  organs,  enable  them  to  form  good 
blood,  which  gives  color  and  animation  to  the 
previously  adust  complexion,  and  depressed 
countenance,  and  which,  when  transmitted  to 
the  brain,  and  the  muscles,  and  the  uterus,  im- 
parts to  these  organs  new  life  and  activity  in 
the  discharge  of  their  several  fanctions.  The 
brain,  moreover,  being  no  longer  teazcd  by 
irritations  transmitted  from  the  stomach,  al- 
lows the  mind  to  recover  its  calm,  and  even 
to  manifest  cheerfulness,  if  not  hilarity,  at 
the  consciousness  of  the  removal  of  a  heavy 
load  and  of  distressing  pains. 

These  successive  stages  of  recovered  health 
are  not  gone  tlirougli  with  the  aid  of  one 
kind  of  mineral  water  alone;  for,  although 
the  beginning  is  most  satisfactorily  made  by 
the  saline  aperient  class  of  these  waters,  the 
continuation  is  often  advantageously  carried 


f 


SUCCESSIVE  USE  OF  THE  WATERS.         59 

on  by  the  chalybeate,  or  the  sulphureous, 
with  the  judicious  interposition,  at  times,  of 
the  acidulous.  Thus  we  are  enabled  to  car- 
ry out  the  evacuating,  the  tonic,  the  stimu- 
lating and  the  alterative  parts  of  the  cura- 
tive .  -.urse.  The  selection  and  aliernation 
of  waters  to  be  drunk,  and  the  quantity  to  be 
used  at  one  time,  will  necessarily  depend  on 
the  predominance  of  disorder  in  a  particular 
organ,  and  the  nature  and  extent  of  the 
sympathetic  disturbance  to  which  it  gives 
rise  in  the  general  system,  circumstances 
these  which  must,  in  a  great  degree,  be  ascer- 
tained by  intelligent  physicians  "^esident  at 
the  place,  or  whose  stay  and  fre  ^uent  prior 
visits  have  given  them  the  requisite  opportu- 
nities to  form  correct  opinions  of  the  effects 
of  the  v'aters. 


I  "!»»•- 


■*^g«r    '  'S¥«C»trP^<aBBBI8(KWHK«lOTSHW»ff»i 


I'E, 


60        laNERAL  AND  THERMAL  SPRINGS. 


■^ 


CHAPTER  lY. 

Mineral  springs  of  New  York— Their  geological  relations 
— Acidulo-saline  waters— Those  of  Saratoga  and  Ball- 
ston  — Their  situation  and  extensive  range  —  Chief 
springs  at  Saratoga— Physical  properties  and  analyses 
of  the  waters. 

In  tlie  following  pages,  my  notice  of  the 
several  mineral  and  thermal  springs  of  the 
United  States  will  be  in  geographical  order ; 
as  more  convenient  for  the  visitors  to  these 
places,  although  it  w^ill  cause  some  repeti- 
tions of  opinions  and  experience  respecting 
the  curative  powers  of  springs  of  similiar 
composition  in  different  states.  I  begin  with 
the  springs  of  New  York,  as  the  most  north- 
erly of  the  states  of  which  we  possess  any- 
thing like  a  detailed  description. 

The  geological  situation  of  a  considerable 
number  of  the  gaseous  springs  in  New 
York,  is  represented  by  Professor  Mather'^'  to 


i 


*  This  writer  would    seem  to  designate  as  gaseous 
springs  those  the  waters  of  which  contain  or  evolve 


ON  AXIS  OF  DISTCRBAXCE. 


61 


be  on  or  near  the  junction  of  limestone  with 
a  talcy  slate,  which  is  considered  as  an  alter- 
ed rock,  and  both  these  rocks  may,  in  many 
places,  be  considered  metamorphic.  They 
are  all  adjacent  to  faults  in  the  strata,  or 
where  the  rocks  are  much  deranged  in  posi- 
tion. Some  of  these  springs  are  thermal, 
and  perhaps  all  of  them  would  prove  to  be 
so  by  a  careful  measurement  of  their  tempe- 
ratures. Some  of  them  deposit  tufa,  but  most 
of  them  are  as  pure  as  common  spring  water, 
and  are  employed  for  domestic  purposes. 

The  range  of  springs,  as  far  as  has  been 
observed,  in  the  eastern  part  of  the  state  of 
New  York,  is  from  near  the  Vermont  line, 
in  the  township  of  Ilosick,  Eensselaer 
County,  by  Lebanon  Springs,  to  near  Stony 
Point,  in  Eockland  County.     Those  of  Yir- 

nitrogen  and  carburetted  hydrogen  gases.  Dr.  Lewis 
C.  Beck  speaks  of  «'  Gas  Springs,"  or  Carburetted  Ily- 
drogen  Springs,  as  equivalent  terms.  Both  these  gentle- 
men, by  this  nomenchiture,  restrain  within  entirely  too 
narrow  a  compass,  the  division  of  gas  or  gaseous  springs. 
Both  carburetted  hydrogen  and  nitrogen  springs  are 
merely  subdivisions  or  varieties  of  the  class,  if  we  can 
really  make  one  of  gas  sprinn-s. 

6 


mm 


V     I 


If 


1; 


\k 


m. 


It  '! 


» 


62 


3IINERAL  AND  THERMAL  SPRIXGS. 


ginia,  and  perhaps  intermediate  ones,  may 
be  considered  as  on  the  same  great  axis  of 
disturbance.  It  is  probable,  continues  Mr. 
Mather,  that  observers  may  find  similar 
springs  in  Vermont,  Massachusetts,  and  New 
York,  along  the  continuation  of  this  line  of 
disturbance.  The  thermal  springs  of  Vir- 
ginia, as  we  shall  soon  see,  have  nearly  the 
same  geological  relations  with  those  of  New 
York,  and  are  on  the  same,  or  a  parallel  axis 
of  upheaving  action. 

New  York  is  rich  in  mineral  springs,  es- 
pecially those  of  the  sulphureous  class.  The 
acidulous,  although  in  smaller  number,  fur- 
nish, however,  some  which  are  more  cele- 
brated, more  visited,  and  endowed  with  more 
medicinal  virtues  than  any  other,  not  only  in 
the  state,  but  in  the  United  States.  I  refer, 
of  course,  to  those  of  Saratoga,  a  spot  en- 
deared by  its  historical  associations  to  every 
American.  Ballston,  a  few  miles  distant, 
was  at  one  time  the  place  most  visited  by  in- 
valids and  summer  travellers ;  but  for  seve- 
ral years  past  it  has  been,  in  a  great  measure, 
neglected.  Alone,  or  situated  in  another  part 
of  the  country,  such  is  the  mineral  strength 


SARATOGA  AND  BALLSTOX  SPRIXGS.       63 

of  its  waters,  it  could  not  fail  to  attract  much 
company. 

SARATOGA   AND   BALLSTOX   SPRIXGS. 

Theso   waters   are   appropriately   enough 
called  acidulous,  from  the  abundance  of  car- 
bonic acid   and  of  carbonates  which  they 
contain ;  and,  owing  to  their  large  impregiia- 
tion  with  chloride  or  sodium  or  common  salt, 
they  are  also  actively  saline,  and  hence  their 
proper  designation  must  be  acldulo-salme  or 
carhonated  saline.     These  springs,  we  are  told 
by  Dr.  Steel,"^  are  all  situated  just  along  the 
verge  of  the.  secondary,  and  not  far  from  the 
transition   formation.      Those   of   Saratoga 
seem  to  form  the  centre  of  a  long  range  Tn 
the  shape  of  a  crescent,  commencing  at  Balls- 
ton  lake,  about  eleven  miles  to  the  south- 
west, and  terminating  at  the  Quaker  Springs, 
at  Stillwater,  to  the  southeast.    At  Saratoga,' 
^' -     are  more  numerous  and  diversilied^'in 
sensibl 


their 


)  qualities,  than  at  any  other 
place ;  but  it  may  be  said  that,  with  few  ex- 
ceptions,  all  the  mineral  spriui^s  in  the  cres- 


^  ^-  Analysis  of  the  Mineral  Waters  of  Saratoga  and 
Ballston,  &c. 


I 


6J:        FUNERAL  AXD  TIIEIOIAL  SPRINGS. 

cent  JLTst  mentioned  appear  to  possess  the 
same  qualities,  and  differ  only  in  the  propor- 
tion of  substances  common  to  all.  It  would 
seem,  therefore,  as  if  they  received  their  dis- 
tinctive properties  in  one  vast  laboratory; 
some  of  them  being  modified,  in  their  passage 
to  the  surface,  by  the  geological  character  of 
the  upper  stratum  through  which  they 
passed. 

If  we  admit  the  correctness  of  Dr.  Dau- 
beny's  observation,  that  the  temperature  of 
the  water  of  the  Congress  Spring,  at  Saratoga, 
51°  F.,  is  three  or  four  degrees  above  the 
mean  temperature  of  the  earth ^at  this  place, 
we  can  give  credence  to  the  opinion  of  the 
thermal  origin  of  the  water,  and  of  the  mode 
of  extricati^on  of  the  carbonic  acid  so  largely 
found ;  it  being  brought  about  by  subterra- 
nean heat  acting  on  limestone  rocks.  The 
first  process  would  consist  of  the  junction  of 
carbonic  acid,  coming  through  clefts  and 
small  canals,  with  the  meteoric  water  which 
had  reached  its  greatest  depth  and  was 
beginning  to  rise  in  Inrger  canals.  The 
second  process  would  1  ~.  the  decomposition 
and  solution   of  portions  of  certain  rocks, 


* 


FOEArATION  OF  CARBONIC  ACID.  65 

and  the    formation    of  acidulous    sprin<rs 
rich  ;n  carbonic  acid  and  carbonates.    The 
same  heat  which  would  drive  off  carbonic 
acid  from  limestone,  would  readily  raise  the 
temperature  of  the  meteoric  water  which 
finds  Its  way  into  the  interior  of  the  earth 
and  we  should  then  have  thermal-warm  and 
hot  springs.    Eeasoning  in  this  way,  we  can 
easily  adopt  the  views  of  those  who  maintain 
that   carbonated  and   thermal   sprin-s   are 
similar  in  their  mineral,  and  still  more  in 
their  geological  position,  and  seem  to  be 
plainly  referable  to  the  same  system  of  causes. 
I  he  separate  formation  of  carbonic  acid  is 
evinced  in  the  fact  of  its  evolution  in  its  pure 
gaseous  state  in  caverns  and  from  crevices  in 
certain  districts,  unaccompanied  by  water 
but  in  which,  for  the  most  part,  there  are' 
also,  copious  carbonated  or  acidulous  sprin  -s' 
Examples  of  this  nature  are  frequent :  aslu 
the  vapor  caverns  of  Pyrmont,  mentioned  by 
Bischof.      This  writer  tells  us,  also,  of  a 
mineral  spring  entirely  destitute  of  carbonic 
acid  opening  on  the  bank  of  a  rivulet,  al- 
though  the  abundp.t  deposition  of  iron  ochre 
shows  that  the  sp..ug  must  have  contained 

6* 


QC:,        MINERAL  AND  THERMAL  SPRINGS. 

a  considerable  quantity  of  gas,  and,  in  fact, 
we  liave  not  far  to  seek  for  it.     At  the  dis- 
tance of  a  few  hundred,  feet  higher  up,  and 
at  a  level  of  twenty  feet  above  the  spring, 
there  is  a  cavity  so  filled  with  carbonic  acid, 
that  it  is  only  at  the  risk  of  losing  his  life 
that  one  dares  to  venture  into  it.^     Here  we 
must  believe  that  the  gas  originally  mingled 
with  the  water  of  the  spring,  and,  by  the  re- 
moval  of  the  hydrostatic  pressure  from  this 
latter  as  it  approached  the  surface,  escaped  by 
another  channel.    Often  the  carbonic  acid  es- 
capes  through  the  water  itself,  in  such  a  man- 
ner and  at  intervals  as  to  show  its  separate 
and  independent  origin.     Thus,  at  the  Park 
Spring  (Ballston),   as  we  learn   from    Dr. 
Lewis  C.  Beck,t  "  minute  bubbles  of  gas  are 
continually  rising  through  the  water ;  but  at 
an  interval  of  about  a  minute,  the  whole  will 
be  agitated  by  the  evolution  of  a  compara- 
tively large  bulk  of  the  gas.      This  gas, 
which  is  in  all  cases  nearly  pure  carbonic 

*  Subterraneous  Course  of  Water,  and  the  Absorption 
of  Gases  by  Water  in  the  Interior  of  the  Earth.— Edin. 
Phil.  Journ.,  vol.  xviii. 

t  MineraloffV  of  New  York,  p.  137. 


ABSOEPTION  OF  CARBOXIC  ACID. 


67 


acid,  also  rises  in  great  abundance  tbrongli 
the  water  of  a  well  near  Low's  Spring,  and 
in  various  places  in  the  valley  of  the  stream. 
Some  years  since,  there  was  a  very  remark- 
able  and,  indeed,  almost  volcanic  discharge  of 
it  near  the  old  factory,  which  threw  up  the 
water  of  the  creek  several  feet  into  the  air ; 
but  the  gas  soon  diminished  greatly  in  quan- 
tity, and  can  now  be  observed  rising  only  in 
small  bubbles  through  the  bed  of  the 
stream." 

When  the  gas  meets  the  water  in  the  low- 
est part  of  the  hydrostatic  pressure,  and 
when  the  canals  of  water  proceed  downwards 
to  a  great  depth  in  the  earth,  these  various 
relations  are  favorable  to  the  entire  absorp- 
tion of  the  gas.  When,  on  the  other  hand, 
the  gas  enters  the  canal  nearer  the  surface  of 
the  earth,  it  may  easily  happen  that  only  a 
part  shall  be  absorbed,  w^hile  the  larger  por- 
tion passes  freely  through  the  water.  In 
this  case,  we  are  led  to  believe  that  the  ab- 
sorption of  the  carbonic  acid  by  water  takes 
place  near  the  surface.  Bischof  calculates 
that  at  the  springs  of  Meinberg,  in  Lippe- 
Detmold,  the  gas  joins  the  water  caurds  at  a 


ill 


^••lr:.i 


mw 


68        MINERAL  AND  THERMAL  SPRINGS. 

depth  of  about  fifty  feet  below  tlic  surface. 
Mr.  Mather  suggests  that  the  mineral  quali- 
ties of  the  Ballfeton  waters  originate  at  the 
contact  of  the  slate  with  the  Trenton  lime- 
stone, Avhich  he  thinks  is  not  more  than  fifty 
feet  below  the  level  of  the  valley.  The  size 
of  the  bubbles  is,  Bischof  thinks,  regulated 
by  the  nature  of  the  ground.  If  the  spring 
comes  from  larger  clefts  in  the  mountain,  the 
bubbles  are  large ;  but  if  from  many  small 
openings  of  a  porous  rock,  the  supplies  are 
often  not  larger  than  the  gas  beads  of  cham- 
pagne. 

The  Saratoga  Springs  are  mostly  situated 
in  a  low,  marshy  valley,  near  a  ridge  of  lime- 
stone, and  rise  from  a  bed  of  blue  marly  clay 
that  underlies  the  valley  and  the  sand  plains 
in  the  vicinity.  The  water  sometimes  rises 
from  the  clay,  sometimes  from  the  underlying 
limestone,  and  sometimes  from  a  layer  of 
quicksand.  At  the  depth  of  thirty  or  forty 
feet,  the  stratum  is  underlaid  by  a  system  of 
boulders."^ 

The  water  of  the  Ballston  Springs  rises 
from  a  bed  of  quicksand,  beneath  the  bed 


'f 


*  Mather— Geology  of  the  State  of  New  York.  Part  1. 


ABTESIAN-  WELL  AT  BALLSTON. 


G9 


I 

•i 


of  clay  filled  with  pebbles,  boulders,  and 
gravel,  and  which  is  commonly  called  "  hand 
pan."  The  sand  bed  is  supposed  to  rest  in 
the  fucoidal  or  graptolitic  slate  (and  this 
slate  is  seen  in  place  at  a  very  short  distance). 
The  mineral  water  rising  through  a  bed  of 
quicksand,  carries  much  of  this  sand  along 
with  it,  and  this  is  impacted  so  tightly  in  the 
tubes  as  to  obstruct  the  free  flow,  and  fre- 
quently causes  it  to  break  out  elsewhere. 
The  springs  are  thus  lost,  and  in  other  cases 
springs  of  fresh  water  frequently  break  into 
the  wells,  and  dilute  the  mineral  qualities  of 
the  water.  A  well  was  dug  at  Ballston  Spa, 
near  the  creek,  during  the  spring  or  winter 
of  1840,  and  after  digging  thirty  or  forty 
feet,  there  burst  up  a  current  of  water  from 
the  bottom  of  the  well,  which  gave  a  stream 
sufficient  to  drive  a  mill.  The  water  was 
slightly  acidulous,  and  seemed  to  be  a  mix- 
ture of  the  mineral  water  of  this  vicinity 
with  fresh  unimpregnated  water.  "Should  it 
be  advisable  to  bore  for  water  at  Ballston 
Spa,"  continues  Professor  Mather,  "  I  would 
advise  the  boring  to  be  carried  even  into  the 
calciferous  sandstone,  if  water  should  not  be 


I 


|^h|^^hmH 


"TTfl 


70        MINERAL  AND  THERMAL  SPRINGS. 

obtained  before,  for  the  source  of  the  mineral 
qualities  may  be  deeper  than  the  junction  of 
Trenton  limestone  with  the  slate." 

It  has  been  already  remarked  that  the 
groups  of  springs  at  Saratoga  and  Ballston 
possess  very  nearly  the  san  .  properties ;  the 
difference  consisting  in  the  proportion  of  the 
saline  and  gaseous  ingredients.  In  and  near 
Saratoga  are  found  the  several  springs  known 
by  the  titles  of  Congress,  Pavilion.  Union, 
Putnam,  Iodine,  High  Eock,  Plat  Eock, 
Hamilton,  Columbian,  and  Washington.  Of 
these,  a  preference  has  been  givon  for  some 
time  past  to  the  one  first  mentioned;  fashion 
directing  the  choice  as  much  as  any  dc.non- 
strable  superiority  in  its  favor. 

Congress  Sjmng. -Suhjomed  are  the  a  ^aly- 
ses  of  this  water,  a  j^^nt  being  the  quantity 
on  which  the  proportions  are  based.  They 
were  made  by  Professor  Dana  and  Doctor 
Steel,  and  are  reproduced  here  a:  we  find 
them  in  Dr.  Lewis  C.  Beck's  "Mineralogy  of 
New  York." 

The  temperature  of  the  water  is  stated  by 
Dr.  Steel  to  be  50°,  and  by  Dr.  Daubeny 
51°  P.    It  remains  the  same  at  all  seasons. 


1^ 


Ji 


ANALYSIS  OF  CONGRESS  WATER. 


71 


nor  is  the  quantity  of  the  water  changxl  at 
these  periods. 


Grains. 

Grains 

Chloride  of  sodium 

■ 

64.30 

48.13 

Ilydriodate  of  soda 

• 

0.44 

Carbonate  of  soda 

■ 

2.00 

bicarbonate  of  soda 

• 

1.12 

Carlionatc  of  magncs 

ia 

4.00 

Dicarbonate  of  magnesia 

11.07 

Carbonate  of  lime 

• 

18.00 

12.26 

Carbonate  of  iron 

• 

0.G3 

Silica 

• 

.     trace  with  iron  0.10 

IJydrobromatc  of  pot 

assa 

- 

trace. 

78.30 

74.74 

Cubic  Inches. 

Cubic  Inch 

Carbonic  acid  gas 

• 

.           • 

30.10 

39.00 

Azote,  or  nitrogen 

• 

•           • 

0.90 

Atmospheric  air 

t 

•  • 

•  • 

0.87 

Gaseous  contents 

40.00 

30.87 

Dr.  Chilton's  analysis,  as  given  by  Dr. 
North,''*  differs  from  the  above  in  its  exhibit- 
ing  a  minute  or  fractional  quantity  of  alu- 
mina and  sulphate  of  soda,  and  marked  pro- 
portions of  iodide  of  sodium  and  bromide  of 
potassium,  viz :  5.920  grains  in  a  gallon  of 
the  water.    The  entire  amount  of  solid  con- 

*  Analysis  of  Saratoga  waters;  also  of  Sharon.  Avon, 
Virginia,  White  Sulphur,  &c. 


•■f 


1^4 


{J 


Ai 


72      :mineiial  axd  theemal  springs. 

tents  Avas  543.998  grains,  and  of  carbonic 
acid  284 j35,  and  atmosplieric  air  5.41  = 
290.06  cubic  inches. 

Pavilion  Spring.— The  water  of  tbis  spring, 
with  a  smaller  quantity  of  saline  contents— 
811.71  grains  in  the  gallon — than  that  of  tlie 
Congress,  exceeds  this  latter  in  tlie  propor- 
tion of  carbonic  acid,  which  is  359.5  cubic 
inches.  The  Pavilion  Spring  is  now  in  the 
centre   of   the  town,   near   the   Columbian 

Hotel. 

JJiiion  Sjmng.— This  spring,  at  the  eastern 
l)order  of  the  town,  near  the  road  to  Schuy- 
lerville,  waj  represented  by  Dr.  Beck  to  con- 
tain a  larger  proportion  of  saline  ingredients 
than  any  of  the  preceding  ones.     The  asser- 
tion has  not  been  borne  out  by  the  analysis 
of  Dr.  Chilton,  which  gives  392.907  grains 
of  solid  contents  in  a  gallon  of  the  water. 
The  carbonic  acid  is  in  somewhat  less  pro- 
portion than  in  the  Pavilion,  and  consider- 
ably more  than  in  the  Congress  water,  being 
844.16  cubic  inches  in  a  gallon  of  the  vvater. 
Putnam   Spring.— Th\s,   called   after  its 
owner,   ranks    among    the    richest   of    the 
springs  of  Saratoga,  on  the  score  of  chaly- 


t 


WALTON  AND  HIGH  ROCK  SPRINGS.       73 

beate  impregnation,  containing  as  it  does  7 
grains  of  the  carbonate  of  iron  ^'n  the  gallon, 
in  addition  to  the  ingredients  common  to  it 
and  the  other  springs. 

The  Iodine  or  Walton  Sjyring. — The  water 
of  this  spring  contains,  according  to  an  ana- 
lysis of  Professor  Emmons,  in  addition  to 
the  other  ingredients,  hydriodate  of  soda,  in 
the  proportion  of  8.5  grains  to  the  G'allon  of 
water.  Its  chalybeate  impregnation  is  greater 
than  that  of  the  Congress  water,  but  less  than 
that  of  the  Pavilion,  Union,  and  others.  Tem- 
perature 47*^  F. 

The  High  Eock,  Flat  Eock,  Washington, 
Hamilton,  and  Columbian  Springs,  analyses 
of  which  are  given  by  Dr.  Steel,  resemble 
each  other,  and  those  already  described,  with 
the  modified  feature  of  being  actively  chaly- 
beate. 

The  High  Rode  Sjmng  is  surrounded  by  a 
conical  rock  of  calcareous  tufa,  formed  by 
deposits  from  the  water  itself;  its  diameter, 
at  its  base,  is  between  eight  and  nine  feet, 
and  at  its  summit,  between  five  and  six.  The 
somewhat  smgular  appearance  of  this  foun- 
tain first  introduced  it  into  notice;  and,  as 
7 


'    i* 


f1 


74        MINERAL  AND  THERMAL  SPRINGS. 

we  are  told  by  Dr.  Steel,  it  remained,  for  a 
time,  tbe  only  one  in  nse,  when  much  was 
said  by  the  credulous  of  its  astonishing  effects 
in  the  cure  of  nearly  all  diseases.  Tempera- 
ture 48°  F.,  the  same  as  that  of  the  Flat  Rock 
Spring. 

The  High  Rock  was  the  spring  first  dis- 
covered, or  rather  the  first  to  which  the  at- 
tention of  the  then  colonists  was  directed  by 
the  Indians,  in  whose  traditions  it  had  long 
been  celebrated  for  its  medicinal  virtues, 
especially  for  the  cure  of  rheumatism.  They 
were  first  drawn  to  the  spot  by  the  great 
quantity  of  game  that  frequented  it  as  a 
salt-lick.  The  first  white  visitor  was  Sir 
William  Johnson,  in  17G7,  vdio  was  very 
subject  to  gout,  and  whose  health  was  im- 
proved by  the  use  of  the  water.  About  the 
year  1784  and  1785,  accommodations  were 
provided  for  a  few  invalids,  and  about  this 
time  the  Flat  Rock,  the  President,  and  the 
Red  Springs  were  discovered. 

Dr.  Steel,  to  whom  I  am  indebted  for  this 
historical  notice,  describes  in  addition  to 
those  already  mentioned,  the  Hamilton,  Red 
Spring,  Jackson,  Alexander,  Ellis's,  and  Sul- 


V.ii 


i 


BALLSTO^  bx  iilNGS. 


pliur  Springs.  The  Eed  Spring  derives 
its  name  from  the  deposit  of  iron  ochre, 
which  colors  the  fine  sand  that  is  readily 
mixed  with  the  water  on  its  being  agitated. 
Its  temperature  is  48°  F.  That  of  the  Pre- 
sident  is  51°  F.,  of  Jackson  50°,  the  same  as 
the  Columbian,  Ellis's  47°,  Alexander  48°, 
Hamilton  the  same.  The  temperature  of  the 
Sulphur  Spring  is  50°,  while  that  of  a  foun- 
tain of  pure  water  close  by,  or  within  ten 
feet,  and  which  rises  from  the  same  bank,  is 
at  46°,  and  this  last  is,  we  beli  :ve,  higher 
than  the  average  of  the  common  springs  of 
this  district,  so  that  all  the  mineral  springs 
of  the  valley  may  be  considered  as,  to  a  cer- 
tain extent,  thermal. 

Ballston  Springs.— "Th.^.^  town  is  about 
seven  miles  southwest  jx.  Saratoga.  The 
springs  are  mostly  situated  in  a  marshy  spot, 
at  the  bottom  of  the  deep  valley  of  the 
stream  Kayaderosseras.  The  bed  of  the 
stream  is  slate,  although  it  cannot  be  assert- 
ed that  the  carbonated  waters  have  their 
origin  in  thiei  rock.  The  springs  at  Ballston 
were  discovered  about  the  year  1787,  and 
owing  to  Jieir  advantageous  position,  and  to 


gpp 


% 


il 


76 


MINERAL  AND  THERMAL  SPRINGS. 


r   =1/ 


the  enterprise  manifested  bj  the  proprietors 
of  the  lands  on  which  they  were  situated,  in 
erecting  good  houses  of  accommodation,  and 
making  other  improvements,  this  place  took 
the  lead  of  Saratoga  for  the  next  fifteen  or 
eighteen  years.  Since  then,  thanks  to  Mr. 
Putnam's  exertions  in  erecting  a  large  house 
for  the  accommodation  of  visitors,  near  the 
Congress  Spring,  Saratoga  has  rapidly  ac- 
quired a  celebrity  which  promises  to  be  as 
permanent  as  it  is  now  widely  diffused. 

The  situation  of  Ballston  is  represented  to 
be  pleasant  and  healthy,  and  the  air  "  ex- 
tremely clear  and  cool ;"  a  praise,  on  the  score 
of  coolness,  which  cannot  be  awarded  to 
Saratoga,  much  as  we  may  admire  the  gene- 
ral healthiness  of  the  place. 

Of  the  different  springs  at  Ballston,  men- 
tion may  be  made  of  the  United  Slates^  the 
Fulton  Chahjheate^  the  Franklin  Sulpltur^  and 
Parh  and  Low^s  Well. 

Tiio  United  States  S^mng  is  highly  charged 
with  carbonic  acid,  while  the  others  contain 
only  a  small  proportion  of  this  gas.  The 
temperature  of  this  spring  is  50°  F.,  which 
does  not  seem  to  vary  during  the  year.     Spe- 


I 


\r'c! 


• 


LOW  S  WELL  AXD  PARK  SPRING.  77 

ciiic  gravity  of  the  water  1.00611.  Accord- 
ing to  an  analysis  made  by  Dr.  Beck,  one 
pint  of  the  water  contains 


Ohlonde  of  sodium 
Carbonate  of  sotla   . 

•  •  •  • 

Carbonate  oif  magnesia     .... 
Carbonate  of  lime  with  a  little  oxide  of  iron 
Sulphate  of  soda      . 
Silica 


Grains. 

53.12 
2.11 
0.72 
3.  Go 
0.22 
1.00 


60.82 


Carbonic  acid  30.50  cubic  inches. 

It  will  be  seen  that  the  Congress  water  at 
Saratoga  contains  from  13.50  to  17.50  grains 
of  saline  substances,  and  between  9  and  10 
cubic  inches  of  gas  more  than  this  water,  in 
equal  quantity. 

Low's  IVell  resembles  the  preceding  in  its 
ingredients,  but  its  water  contains  less  saline 
matter.  Its  specific  gravity  is  1.025-18. 
Temperature  50°. 

Park  Simng  at  the  rear  of  the  Village 
Uotcl  has,  also,  nearly  the  same  composition, 
"  but  the  oxide  of  iron  is  in  much  larger  pro- 
portion than  in  any  of  the  waters°of  the 
vicinity." 


'* 


I"  J.  t 


i 


-  ^*  -=»".  *■•  ■»»  sjsaiiw. 


mi 


WNI 


78        MINERAL  AND  THERMAL  SPRINGS. 


It      I.' 


i> 


,5'« 


CHAPTER   V. 

Medicinal  craploj'mcnt  of  the  Saratoga  Avators — In  conges- 
tive states  of  the  digestive  system,  and  plethora — Sym- 
pathetic disturbances — Quantity  of  the  water  drank — 
Time  of  drinking  it — First  or  purgative  operation — 
Second  or  alterative. 

Medicinal  Employment  of  the  Saratoga 
Waters. — The  diseases  in  which  the  aperient 
saline  waters  of  Saratoga  are  serviceable 
may  be  included  in  the  sketch  already  given 
of  those  which  proceed  from,  or  are  associ- 
ated with,  a  congestive  state  of  the  digestive 
system,  and  with  abdominal  plethora.  The 
feeling  of  load  and  oppression  in  the  abdo- 
men, sometimes  resulting  from  undue  reten- 
tion of  food  in  the  stomach,  sometimes  from 
enlarged  liver  or  spleen,  sometimes  from 
fecal  accumulation  in  the  large  intestine,  and 
again  from  flatus  and  distension  in  different 
parts  of  the  canal,  often  from  sluggish  circu- 
lation of  the  portal  system,  all  of  which  de- 
rangements of  function  may  manifest  them- 


SARATOGA  WATERS  IN  DISEASE.  79 

selves  at  the  same  time,  will  be  relieved  in 
the  same  way,  viz:  by  free  secretory  action 
of  the  mucous  membranes  of  the  intestinal 
canal,  procured  by  the  purging  springs  of 
Saratoga,  such  as  the  Congress  water.     The 
disorders  of  the  abdominal  viscera  here  no- 
ticed, pass  by  the  various  names  of  dyspepsia, 
liver  disease,  bilious  complaints,  costiveness, 
piles,  &c.     They  are  associated  with,  or  give 
rise  to,  very  different  degrees  of  excitement 
of  the  heart  and  circulation  generally,  and  of  • 
disturbance  of  the  nervous  system,  accordino* 
to  the  susceptibility  of  the  individual.    Some 
invalids  suffer  from  febrile  excitement,  ex- 
hibited by  a  frequent  pulse,  a  dry  and  hot 
skin,  and  thirst;  others  from  nervous  disor- 
ders, pain,   cramps  and    spasm;    the   pulse 
being  little  changed,  and  the  skin  cool  or 
moist  and  clammy.     The  physician  will  not 
allow  his   attention   to  be   diverted  by  the 
variety  of  these  secondary  or  symptomatic 
disorders  from  the  main,  central,  and  primary 
one,  nor  fail  to  see  the  necessity  of  directing 
his  treatment  for  the  removal  of  the  abdo"^ 
minal  congestion. 

When  it  is  ascertained  that  there  is  no  ex- 


M. 


•     »«,-'y,>»^-v  ^•?m<mfiic 


•ny  t    '■^gtBK- 


i 


il'l! 


'M      f 


3    (i 


i?    f^ 


SO 


:mineral  and  thermal  springs. 


isting  inflammation  or  febrile  excitement  re- 
quiring more  decidedly  and  promptly  de- 
pleting and  reducing  means  than  those  fur- 
nished by  the  Congress  water,  or  others  of 
a  similar  character  on  the  spot,  recourse  will 
be  had  to  them,  and  their  use  continued  in  a 
methodical  manner.  To  meet  the  indications 
already  laid  down,  they  must  be  administered 
in  such  quantities  as  to  produce  copious  and 
repeated  evacuatic  as  from  the  bowels  daily, 
for  a  period  of  at  least  two  weeks.  Failing 
to  act  at  first  as  an  aperient,  in  the  ordinary 
quantities,  they  should  be  reinforced  by  the 
addition  of  a  drachm  or  so  of  Epsom  salts, 
and  of  half  the  quantity  of  common  salt, 
dissolved  in  the  first  tumbler  of  the  mineral 
water ;  for,  in  the  beginning  of  a  course  of 
drinking  the  Saratoga  water,  there  can  be  no 
compromise  or  half-way  results.  There  must 
be  free  purging  if  we  wish  for  the  best  imme- 
diate efiects;  and,  also,  if  we  desire  to  put 
the  digestive  system  and  the  economy  gene- 
rally, in  such  a  condition  that  it  will  be  still 
more  benefited  and  strengthened  by  a  sub- 
sequent alterative  treatment  from  the  use  of 
the  water  in  small  quantit}'-,  or  by  a  tonic 


QUANTITY  TO  BE  DEUNK. 


81 


course  from  drinking  other  waters,  in  which 
the  iron  is  more  abundant,  or  into  the  com- 
position of  which  iodine  enters. 

The  quantity  of  the  water  drank  to  produce 
the  desired  aperient  effect,  is  from  one  to  three 
pints,  early  in  the  morning,  in   draughts  of 
half  a  pint,  at  intervals  of  from  five  to  ten 
minutes ;  the  invalid  walking  about  or  taking 
other  exercise  during  the  whole  period.     If 
unable  to  go  to  the  spring,  he  should  pace 
up  and  down  a  piazza  or  long  corridor,  and 
might  use  dumb  bells  at  the  same  time.    An 
hour  at  least  ought  to  elapse  between  drink- 
ing the  last  draught  of  the  water  and  break- 
fasting.    Confinement  to  his  room  will  not, 
however,  preclude  the  invalid  from  drinking 
the  water  in  the  manner  now  mentioned;  bu't 
it  will  be  desirable  that  he  should  begin  at 
quite  an  early  hour,  and  allow  a  still  bnger 
period   to  elapse  between  his   last  glassful 
and  breakfast  than  if  he  had  gone  to  the 
spring. 

While  thus  laying  so  much  and  such  de- 
served stress  on  the  purgative  action  of  the 
Saratoga  waters,  we  must  not  suppose  that 
their  good  effects,  at  the  very  time,  are  all  ob- 


;»"  -vjL 


!  ■■  t . 


82 


MINERAL  AND  THER^IAL  SPRINGS. 


I  m 


■''  t 


tained  in  this  way.  Eefercnce  lias  been  al- 
x^eady  made  to  the  copious  secretion  from 
the  kidneys,  caused  by  this  class  of  waters. 
As  they  are  largely  absorbed  and  enter  the 
bloodvessels,  they  cannot  fail  to  reach  every 
tissue,  and  modify  every  secreting  process  in 
the  living  body,  while  they  are  exerting  their 
chief  activity  on  the  intestinal  mucous  mem- 
branes and  its  secretory  glands.  The  liver, 
and  the  pancreas,  and  the  salivary  and  muci- 
parous glands,  and  the  pelvic  viscera,  must 
all  of  them  be  impregnated  by  this  diffusive 
medication;  nor  will  the  skin  escape  the  influ- 
ence of  this  cause,  as  we  soon  see  by  its  greater 
softness  and  suppleness,  and  improved  color. 
In  fact,  the  alterative  process  is  going  on  con- 
temporaneously with  the  purgative,  as  evin- 
ced not  only  by  the  improvement  in  the  as- 
similating functions,  but  also  in  those  of  the 
nervous  and  muscular  systems.  The  invalid 
is  in  better  spirits,  looks  on  the  world  with  a 
more  cheerful  and  kindly  feeling,  and  is  both 
willing  and  able  to  walk  abroad,  and  to  in- 
dulge in  active  exercises,  if  not  sports. 

All  these  pleasant  results  are  not,  wo  may 
well  suppose,  gained  in  the  first  two  weeks' 


drinking 

water  at  S 

and  a  con^ 

to  follow. 

that  perio 

days,  so  a; 

resume,  as 

gical  actio 

measure   t 

which  has 

then,  accoi 

either  con^ 

towards  a  < 

amendmen 

counsel  a  r 

consist  in  n 

gative  dose 

to  produce 

degree  toni 

termined  oi 

themorniuf 

a  dose  cf  hi 

desirable,  i 

quantity  at 

and  if  this  : 

eaten  early 


^H..- 


TEMPORARY  SUSPENSION  OF  USE.         83 

drinking  of  the  Congress   or  other  similar 
water  at  Saratoga ;  but  approaches  are  made, 
and  a  consciousness  is  felt  that  much  good  is 
to  follow.    It  will  be  proper  to  suspend,  after 
that  period,  the  use  of  the  water  for  a  few 
days,  so  as  to  allow  time  for  the  functions  to 
resume,  as  near  as  may  be,  their  physiolo- 
gical action,  and  thus  enable  the  physician  to 
measure  the  actual   results   of  the   course 
which  has  just  been  gone  through.     He  can 
then,  according  to  the  state  of  the  invalid, 
either  congratulate  him  on  his  rapid  progress 
towards  a  cure,  or,  seeing  that  there  is^'rcal 
amendment,  but  still  some  remaining  disease, 
counsel  a  renewal  of  the  treatment.   This  will 
consist  in  resuming  the  use  of  the  water  in  pur- 
gative doses,  or  in  smaller  quantity,  in  order 
to  produce  more  entirely  its  alterative  and  in 
degree  tonic  effect.    If  the  latter  course  is  de- 
termined  on,  the  water  will  still  be  taken  in 
the  morning  in  preference  to  any  other  time,  in 
a  dose  cf  half  a  pint ;  and  if  more  be  thought 
desirable,  it  may  be  repeated   in  the  same 
quantity  at  noon,  or  an  hour  before  dinner, 
and  if  this  meal  have  been  a  light  one,  and 
eaten  early  in  the  afternoon,  say  at  one  or 


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84        MINERAL  AND  THERMAL  SPrJXGS. 

two  O'clock,  again  in  the  evening  before  re-  . 
tirincr  to  bed.    Even  smaller  quantises,  taken 
at  thlse  intervals  of  time,  and  continuea  for 
two  or  three  weeks,  will  be  found    o  exert  a 
very  salutary  effect,  especially  in  dyspepsia, 
chronic  bowel  disease,  and  irritation  of  the 
kidn-ys  or  bladder,  scrofulous  swellings,  and 
chronic  rheumatism.    But,  in  order  to  derive 
fall  benefit  from  this  course,  it  ought  to  be 
conjoined  with  the  daily  use  of  the  tepid  or 
the  warm  mineral  bath:  the  first,  if  the  skm 
is  dry  and  warm ;  the  second,  if  it  is  cold,  and 

the  pulse  slow. 

In  many  of  the  disorders  already  mention- 
ed, the  direct  result  of  disease  of  the  diges- 
tive organs,  as  well  as  in  others  of  secondary 
occurrence,  it  will  be  well,  after  the  purgative 
course  is  completed,  to  pass  from  the  use  of 
the  Congress  to  the  Iodine  or  some  other 
spring,  such  as  the  Pavilion  or  Putnam's,  in 
which  there  is  a  larger  proportion  of  iron. 
More  especially  will  this  be  desirable  in  those 
cases  in  which  the  invalids  have   suffered 
from  periodical  fever,  hypochondriasis,  hys- 
teria, and  anomalous  pains  in  different  parts, 
or  from  partial  paralysis  and  chlorosis. 


THE  SULPHUR  SPRINGS. 


85 


After  suitable  purging  by  the  waters, 
which  of  itself  gives  great  relief  in  chronic 
bronchitis,  the  alterative  treatment,  as  de- 
scribed above,  will  contribute  to  carry  off  the 
disease,  particularly  in  those  cases,  and  they 
are  frequent,  in  which  the  stomach  is  de- 
ranged in  its  functions  at  the  same  time. 
But  it  is  not  necessar}?-  that  I  should  specify 
all  the  chronic  diseases  arising  from  pervert- 
ed nutrition — tumors  and  deposits — or  from 
chronic  inflammation  and  thickening  of 
tissues  and  ulcerations.  The  same  rules  will 
govern  in  the  treatment  as  those  already  laid 
down.  They  may  be  summed  up  briefly 
in  saying,  that  effects  of  an  actively  reducing 
kind  are  to  be  first  produced  by  the  waters, 
as  purgatives,  and  of  secondary  and  alterative 
ones  by  their  longer  use  in  smaller  doses. 

The  sulphur  springs  within  the  village 
possess,  we  are  told  by  Dr.  North,  but  feeble 
sulphureous  qualities.  Abel's  Spring,  in 
the  southeast  border  of  Saratoga  Lake,  is 
richer  in  this  particular;  and  as  it  can  be 
visited  twice  daily,  through  the  summer,  by 
a  line  of  omnibuses  to  the  lake,  and  a  fine 


steamer    on 
8 


the  latter,   its  virtues  cannot 


i 


86        MINERAL  an:    THERyVL  springs. 

fail  to  be  fully  tested  by  a  crowd  of  invalid 
visitors,  some  of  wliom  have  already  spoken 
liigbly  of  its  good  effects  used  internally. 

"""  There  is  still  another  sulphur  spring 
about  two  miles  west  of  Saratoga  village,  on 
the  farm  of  Mr.  Benedict,  and  near  Kowley's 
stone  mills.  This  water  contains  table  salt, 
lime  and  iron,  besides  sulphuretted  hydro- 
gen and  carbonic  acid.  It  promises  well  for 
bathing,  and  has  already  done  much  for  the 
cure  of  certain  cutaneous  affections." 

The  dry  and  bracing  nature  of  the  atmo- 
sphere of  Saratoga,  and  "  the  highly  balsamic 
or  rather  turpentine  qualities  with  which  it 
is  impregnated  by  the  numerous  pine  and 
other  forest  trees  that  have  been  allowed  to 
remain  in  and  around  this  beautiful  village," 
are  told  with  all  due  emphasis  by  Dr.  North. 
There  is  room  for  improvement  in  opening 
out  walks  in  different  directions,  with  trees 
planted  on  either  side,  and  in  laying  out  a 
park  on  the  hill  above  the  Congress  Spring. 
Excursions,  furnishing  variety  and  amuse- 
ment, are  made  to  Saratoga  Lake  six  miles 
south  of  the  springs  and  the  same  distance 
from  Ballston  Spa,  and  to  Long  Lake,  five 


^  s 


W-kiU 


SARATOGA  TO  LAKE  GEORGE. 


87 


I 


miles  from  tlie  latter  spot.  Saratoga  Lake, 
wlirch  is  nine  miles  long  and  three  broad,  is 
much  resorted  to  for  fishing,  boating,  and  in 
quest  of  game.  The  less  adventurous  are 
satisfied  with  traversing  the  lake  in  its 
length  by  steamboat,  and  returning  by  the 
same  means.  At  certain  points  picturesque 
views  of  the  country  around  -are  met  with, 
and  at  one  spot  a  bold  feature  in  the  land- 
scape offers  in  Snakehill,  which  projects  into 
the  lake  near  the  southern  end.  Long  Lake 
is  five  miles  long  and  one  broad.  It  abounds 
in  fish. 

Many  persons  visit  Lake  George  from  Sa- 
ratoga. The  first  part  of  the  route,  for  a 
distance  of  sixteen  miles,  is  by  railroad  to 
Moreau,  thence  over  a  plank  road  for  four- 
teen miles  to  Caldwell  on  the  lake.  Some 
stop  at  Glen's  Falls,  five  miles  from  the  rail- 
road station,  in  order  to  enjoy  the  view  of 
the  fall  of  a  body  of  water  nine  hundred 
feet  wide,  over  a  precipice  of  forty  feet,  with 
irregular  angular  interruptions,  to  the  extent 
of  several  hundred  feet.  Caldwell,  at  the 
head  of  Lake  George,  is  represented  to  be  a 


.rm^ 


88        MINERAL  AND  THERMAL  SPRINGS. 

very  pleasant  spot  for  spending  a  few  days 
in  the  summer  months. 

Saratoga  Lake  discharges  itself,  by  the 
medium  of  Fish  Creek,  into  the  Hudson 
River  near  the  village  of  SchuylerviUe,  for- 
merly famous  for  its  herring  fishery.  On 
the  flat  land,  adjoining  the  river  on  the  north 
side  of  Fish  Creek,  are  still  to  be  seen  the 
remains  of  the  fortified  camp  erected  by 
General  Burgoyne,  in  his  retreat  after  the 
disastrous  engagements  at  Stillwater  and  Sa- 
ratoga. At  this  place  he  surrendered  his 
whole  army  to  the  American  forces  under 

General  Gates. 

Travellers   from  the   south  and  the  east 

reach  Saratoga  by  way  of  Albany  and  Troy, 

from  both  of  which  places,  the  former  forty 

miles  the  latter  thirty-two  miles  distant,  they 

come  on  railroad  by  way  of  Schenectady. 

From  Canada,  Niagara,  and  the  Lakes,  the 

approach  is  made  by  means  of  the  Albany, 

and  Buffalo  Railroad,  through  Schenectady. 

A  railroad  runs  from  Saratoga  to  Whitehall, 

making  a  connection  with  Lake  Champlain. 

Alhamj  Artesian  Mineral  WeUs.—This  well 
was  procured  without  the  intention  of  the 


"in 


p 


ALBANY  CARBONATED  SALINE  SPRING.     89 

parties  to  whom  we  are  indebted  for  its  ap- 
pearance above  ground.  The  design  of  Messrs. 
Boj^d  and  McCulloch  was  to  obtain,  by  boring, 
pure  water  for  the  supply  of  their  brewery. 
In  the  place  of  this  there  came  bubbling  up 
from  the  depth  of  four  hundred  and  eighty 
feet,  a  saline  water,  rich  in  the  carbonates 
and  carbonic  acid,  and  emitting  at  the  same 
time  carburetted  hydrogen  or  burning  gas. 
On  boring  to  the  depth  of  six  hundred  feet, 
the  flow  of  carbonated  water  and  of  this 
gas  continued.     Afterwards,  a  tube  was  sunk 
to  prevent  the  admixture  of  the  latter  with 
the  mineral  water.     Similar  results  were  ob- 
tained by  boring,  at  the  distance  of  a  few  rods 
from  this  spot,  to  the  same  depth,  with  the 
singular  addition  of  the  escape  of  sulphuret- 
ted  hydrogen  gas  from  a  vein  of  water  which 
was  struck  at  about  thirty  feet  from  the  sur- 
face.    "We  have  then,"  co  dnues  Dr.  Beck, 
"in   the   same    slate  formation,   though  at 
different  depths,  sulphuretted  hydrogen,  car- 
buretted hydrogen,  and  carbonic  acid  gases, 
abundantly  evolved." 

These  two  wells  were  supplied  from  the 
same  vein  of  water,  as  was  shown  in  the  fact 

8* 


o 


90        ^^IlNERAL  AND  THERMAL  SPRINGS. 

that  ^Yllen  the  pump  of  the  one  in  the  ''mine- 
ral  garden"  was  put  in  operation,  the  level  of 
the  water  in  the  other  well  was  soon  reduced, 
and  it  was  at  length  rendered  entirely  v:l.  > 
less.  Dr.  Beck  thinks  that  it  wo  IC.  not  be 
at  all  surprising  if  carbonated  wat-r  wore 
found,  by  boring,  at  any  spot  on  tLe  rv.g^ 
from  Albany  to  Saratoga. 

The  temperature  of  the  Albany  water  is 
51°  to  52°  F.  Its  specific  gravity  at  the  tem- 
perature of  60°  F.  is  1.00900.  An  analy- 
sis of  one  pint  of  the  water,  made  by  Dr. 
Beck,  gave  the  following  results:— 


Chloride  of  sodium  .  .  .  • 
Carbonate  of  soda  ,  .  .  • 
Carbonate  of  lime  .  .  .  . 
Carbonate  of  magnesia 
Carbonate  of  iron  (with  a  little  silica) 
Chloride  of  calcium 


Grains. 

59.00 
5.00 
4.00 
1.50 
1.00 
0.50 

71.00 


Gaseous  contents,  28.00  cubic  inches. 

Dr.  Mead,^  in  his  analysis,  makes  the  solid 
contents  75  grains,  by  his  finding  4  grains 
more  of  the  chloride  of  sodium,  and  0.50  of 


! 


*  Am.  Journ.  of  Science,  xiii.  145. 


reed's  axd  iialleck's  springs.       91 


'1 


I 


carbonate  of  magnesia,  than  Dr.  Beck,  -wliile 
Le  failed  to  detect  chloride  of  cal-cium. 

This  water  is  nearly  as  rich  in  saline  con- 
tents as  the  Congress  at  Saratoga. 

BeeiVs  Mineral  Spring^  in  South  Argyle, 
near  the  Moses  Kill,  in  Washington  County, 
is  another  acidulous  spring,  somewhat  re- 
sembling the  Saratoga  water,  but  containing 
less  gas.  Its  taste  is  distinctly  acidulous, 
but  it  does  not  sparkle. 

Ilallech^s  Spring^  near  the  village  of  Hamp- 
ton, in  Oneida  County,  was  opened  by 
boring  into  a  solid  rock  to  the  depth  of  a 
hundred  and  six  feet.  One  pint,  on  analysis, 
by  Professor  Noyes,  formerly  of  Hamilton 
College,  showed  the  following  constituents: — 

Grains. 

Chloride  of  sodium  .        .         .        .        .78.00 

Chloride  of  calcium 13.00 

Chloride  of  magnesia  .....       4.00 

Sulphate  of  lime 5.00 


100.00 


The  spring  evolves  carburetted  hydrogen 
m  considerable  quantities,  together  with  a 
minute  proportion  of  carbonic  acid.  The 
'''imposition  of  the  water  is  quite  similar  to 


m 


CO 


92        MINERAL  AXD  THERMAL  SPRINGS. 


that  of  the  weak  brine  springs,  to  which  it, 
perhaps,  more  properly  belongs." 

^Ye  have  not  heard,  for  some  time  past,  of 
the  spring  in  Clifton  Street,  in  the  city  of 
New  York,  the  water  of  which  was  said, 
when  first  procured,  to  resemble  closely  that 
of  the  Congress  Spring.  Its  composition 
was  found  to  be  more  complex  than  that  of 
any  other  found  in  the  State,  but  its  solid 
contents  in  a  pint  are  only  18.74  grains,  and 
its  gaseous  proportions,  carbonic  acid  and 
atmospheric  air,  8.14  cubic  inches. 

Chalybeate  Springs.— A  strong  and  co- 
pious chalybeate  spring  is  found  about  a  mile 
west  of  the  village  of  Sandlake,  in  Eensselaer 
county.    It  issues  from  gravel. 

Near  Catskill,  in  Greene  County,  there  is 
another  strong  chalybeate  spring.  Several 
of  the  same  kind  are  found  in  the  counties 
of  Dutchess,  Columbia,  and  Delaware. 


II 


SULPHUREOUS  SPRINGS  OF  NEW  YOI^K.     98 


CHAPTER  YI. 

Sulphureous  Springs  of  New  York— Are  numerous- 
Sharon— Avon— Their  medicinal  effects— Vario  s  dis- 
eases in  which  useful— Quaniity  to  be  drunk. 

There  is  scarcely  a  single  county  in  the 
State  m  which  springs  of  this  class,  impreg- 
nated with  sulphuretted  hydrogen,  are  not 
found;  and  in  the  fourth  district,  we  are  told 
by  Mr.  Ilall,  who  made  a  geological  survey 
of  it,  that  in  almost  every  rock  these  springs 
occur.  Those  which  are  abundant  in  water 
and  highly  charged  with  the  ^as  are,  how- 
ever,  few  in  number.  They  contain,  besides 
sulphuretted  hydrogen  and  carbonic  acid,  car- 
bonate and  sulphate  of  lime,  which  are  depo- 
sited upon  the  twigs  and  stones  over  which 
the  water  flows. 

Springs  of  this  nature,  Mr.  Hall  remarks, 
which  issue  from  different  rocks,  have  an 
aspect  and  general  c^^aracter  which  indicate 
their  relative  geological  positions.    In  the 


ll^l 

1 

_^      1 

■^ 

.1' 


H 


MINERAL  AND  THERMAL  SPRINGS. 


it 


ffl 


strata  of  the  Niagara  group,  the  Avatcr  b?s 
usually  a  dark  appearance   ia  the   spring, 
though  lb  IS  limpid  and  dill'ers   essentially 
from  the  waters  of  the  salt  group,  while  in 
higher  rocks  :t  is  not  on^y  less  copious,  but 
it  is  often  marked  by  a  black  and  red  deposit, 
as  well  as  sometimes  a  whitish  stain  upon 
the  rock,  or  at  the  bottom  of  the   spring. 
The  flow  of  water  is  feebler,  and  it  is  less 
strongly  impregnated  with  gas.     A  tempera- 
ture above  that  of  the  common  springs  was 
noticed  in  all  the  sulphureous  ones  in  widely 
difierent    positions,   indicating    a    common 
cause.     With  the  exception  of  the  Sharon 
Springs,  all  the  other  sulphureous   ones  in 
Western  New  York,  in  the  first  district  of 
geological  survey,  are  situated  in   or  near 
lines  of  fracture,  or  of  great  disturbance  in 
the  strata  by  some  subterranean  force. 

Among  the  sulphureous  springs  of  New 
York,  those  of  Sharon  and  of  Avon  take 
precedence. 


!9 


?4  'ite-f ""' 


SHARON  SPRINGS. 


T,^ 


'hese  springs  are  near  the  village  of  Lees- 
ville,  in    the   town  of   Sharon,   Schoharie 


-  •"  •^. 


SUAROX  SPRINGS. 


95 


County.     They  rise  nt  tho  junction  of  the 
watcr-lim    and  Onondaga  salt,  groups,  and, 
as  dcscrib.u  by  Dr.  Beck,  from  the  pyritous 
slates  lying  under  the  Ilelderberg  limestone 
series.      i'he  two  chief  ones  are  called  tl^e 
While  Suljihur^  and  the  Magnes: i.     The  wa- 
ter of  the  first,  on  flowing  over  vegetable  or 
other  substances,  leaves  a  deposit  of  sulphur 
on  them.     So  tenacious  is  it  of  its  distinctive 
characterc,  that  it  preserves  them  while  flow- 
ing with  common  water  for  a  quarter  of  a 
mile,  after  which  it  falls  perpendicularly  over 
a  ledge  of  rocks  sixty  feet,  with  a  volume 
sufficient  to  turn  a  grist-mill. 

A  large  and  well  kept  hotel  has  be-n 
erected  on  the  hill  above  the  Springs,  from 
which  an  extensive  and  picturesque  view  of 
the  surrounding  country  is  obtained. 

Visitors  can  enjoy  themselves,  during  a 
portion  of  every  day,  in  strolling  along  p!ea 
sant  and  shaded  walks   through  extensive 
woods  contiguous  to  the  Springs. 

Sharon  is  reached  from  the  north  and  the 
east  by  way  of  Albany,  where  travellers  take 
the  cars  on  the  Albany  and  Binghampton 


v;  ^ :. 


96        MINERAL  AND  THERMAL  SPRINGS. 


'^     11 
'      'lit 


Eailroad  to  Palatine  Bridge;  and  then  stages 
over  the  mountain  to  the  Springs.  Travel- 
lers from  Philadelphia  and  the  South  and  the 
West  can  either  go  to  New  York  and  follow 
the  route  just  designated,  or  take  another,  on 
the  junction  railroads  from  Philadelphia  by 
way  of  Tamaqua,  Danville,  Williamsport, 
Elmira  and  Binghampton  to  the  Palatine 
Bridge.  The  better  plan,  perhaps,  will  be  to 
go  to  Sharon  by  way  of  Albany,  and  return 
on  the  junction  railroad  via  Williamsport  to 
Philadelphia,  so  as,  in  both  going  and  com- 
ing, to  pass  over  the  mountain  by  daylight. 

One  pint  of  the  water  of  the  Sulphur 
Spring,  analyzed  by  Dr.  J.  E.  Chilton,  of 
New  York,  yielded  the  following  ingredi- 
ents:— 


u 


Sulphate  of  maguesia 
Sulphate  of  lime 
Ch'DriJe  of  sodium     . 
Chloride  of  magnesia 
Hydrosulphuret  of  sodium 
Hydrosulphuret  of  calcium 


} 


Grains. 
2.65 
6.98 
0.1-4 
0.15 

0.14 
10.06 


Sulphuretted  hydrogen  gas,  1  cubic  inch. 


]\rAGNESIA  SPRING. 


97 


"  It  is  worthy  of  remark,"  adds  Dr.  Beck, 
"as  perhaps  throwing  some  light  upon  the 
origin  of  this  water,  that  sulphate  of  lime,  in 
small  but  perfect  crystals,  is  found  near  the 
spring,  in  considerable  abundance." 

The  solid  contents  of  a  gallon  of  this 
water,  as  determined  by  the  sama  chemist, 
are  160.94:  grains,  and  the  amount  of  sul- 
phuretted hydrogen  gas  16  inches.  These  re^ 
3ults,  as  reported  by  Dr.  North,-^"  are  at  vari- 
ance with  the  preceding  table  of  reduction  to 
a  pint,  made  by  Dr.  Beck,  still  from  Dr.  Chil- 
ton's analysis. 

The  Magnesia  /§:»r%  contains,  according  to 
Professor  Lawrence  Eeed,  of  New  York,'the 
following  ingredients,  in  a  gallon  of 'the 
water : — 

t-^  ^e • 

on  »r 
oU.O 


Bicarbonate  of  magnesia  . 
Sulphate  of  magnesia 
Sulphate  of  lime  •  .  .  . 
irjdrosulp])ates  of  magnesia  and  lime 
Chloride  of  sodium  and  magnesium 


3( 

22.7 

7G.0 

0.5 

3.0 


132.7 


Sulphuretted  hydrogen,  3.3  cubic  inches. 

The  medicinal  virtues  of  the  Sharon  waters 


* 


Op. 


cit. 


I 


MINERAL  AND  THERMAL  SPRINGS. 

will  be  noticed  after  a  description  of  those 
which  follow. 


!    ■ 


If- 


m 


'  I 
1  f 


AVON  SPRINGS. 

Dr.  S.  Salisbury  speaks  of  the  town  of 
Avon,  near  to  which  are  the  springs,  as  one 
of  tlie  most  beautiful  as  well  as  productive 
in  the  State  of  JSTew  York.  It  is  on  the  east- 
ern branch  of  the  Genesee  Eiver,  in  Livings- 
ton County,  eighteen  miles  from  Eochester, 
and  twenty-four  miles  from  Canandaigua. 
''  The  village  of  Avon  is  eligibly  situated 
about  one  mile  from  the  river,  having  an 
elevated  position  upon  the  table  land,  and 
commanding  a  prospect  of  the  flats,  for  an 
extent  of  many  miles.  The  mineral  springs 
are  between  the  village  and  the  river,  in  the 
valley  below."''^ 

Stages  leave  Eochester  daily  for  the  Springs ; 
and  packet  boats,  which  run  on  the  Genesee 
Valley  Canal,  also  land  passengers  within  ten 
miles  of  the  Springs;  from  which  point  they 
are  carried  in  coaches  to  the  desired  spot. 

*  A  Descriptive,  Historical,  Chemical,  and  'i  herapcu- 
tical  Analysis  of  the  Avon  Sulphur  Springs,  Livingston 
Co.,  New  York. 


AVOX  SPRINGS. 


99 


^  These  springs  were  loug  known  to  the  In- 
dians, who  resorted  to  them  for  the  cure  of 
diseases  of  tlio  skin,  and  even  now  a  few  of 
this  unfortunate  race  are  still  seen  to  visit 
some  of  their  old  haunts.     In  the  year  1792, 
one  of  the  inhabitants  of  the  district  used 
the  waters  with  perfect  success  in  the  cure  of 
a  disease  of  the  skin,  following  intermittent 
fever;  and  in  1795,  a  cure  of  rheumatism  of 
long  standing,  which  had  resisted  the  treat- 
ment of  a  number  of  intelligent  physicians, 
was  speedily  and  entirely  cured  by  their  use! 
The  first  approach  to  anything  like  accom- 
modations  for  visitors  was  in  the  erection,  at 
the  lower  spring,  of  a  small  building,  with  a 
slioicerimj  hox  as  it  was  then  not  inappropri- 
ately called.     There  are  now  three  hotels  in 
the  immediate  neighborhood  of  the  springs 
and  two  in  the  village:  a  connection  between 
them  is  kept  up  by  omnibuses. 
^  Three  of  the  springs  of  Avon  differ  but 
little  from  each  other  in  their  chemical  com- 
position.   Until  the  year  1835  there  were  but 
two  springs  known,  and   they  were   distin- 
guished  as  the  UjyiJer  and  Lower.     In  that 


•    •  ^' 


' 


100      MINERAL  A:7D  THERMAL  SPRINGS. 

year  a  tliird,  called  the  Neio  Bath  Spriufj^ 
was  discovered.  It  is  spoken  of  by  Dr.  J3eck 
as  the  first  spring.  Its  depth  is  about  thirty- 
six  feet,  and  the  formation  through  which  the 
water  rises  is  the  calciferous  slate,  similar  to 
that  found  at  Kochester.  The  temperature 
is  about  60°  F.,  and  its  specific  gravity 
1.00356. 

One  pint  of  the  water  of  the  Avon  New 
Spring  contains 


Carbonate  of  lime 
Sulphate  of  lime 
Sulphate  of  magnesia 
Sulphate  of  soda 
Chloride  of  sodium 


Sulphuretted  hydrogen^  3.91  cubic  inches. 


Grains. 
3.37 
0.44 
1.01 
4.84 
0.71 

10.37 


The  Middle  Spring,  as  the  Upper  is  now 
called,  in  reference  to  the  relative  situation 
of  the  three  springs,  is  situated  about  thirty 
rods  from  the  New.  Its  temperature  is 
51°  F.  Its  composition,  taking  a  pint  as  the 
measure  of  the  quantity  of  the  water,  is,  ac- 
cording to  Professor  Hadley,  as  follows: — 


THE  LOWER  AVON  SPRING. 


■,'tl 
irj 


101 


Grains. 


Carbonate  of  lime 

.     1.00 

Sulphate  of  lime 

.  10.50 

Sulphate  of  magnesia     . 

.     1.25 

Sulphate  of  soda 

.     2.00 

Chloride  of  sodium 

.     2.30 

17.05 

Cubic  Incbo.« 

Sulphuretted  hydrogen 

.     12.00 

Carbonic  acid 

.       5.G0 

Gaseous  contents  17. GO 

The  Third  or  Lower  Spring^  in  its  original 
state,  formed,  as  we  learn  from  Dr.  Salisbury, 
a  large  pool  of  perhaps  Mtj  feet  in  diameter, 
in  which  the  earlier  inhabitants  were  in  the 
habit  of  bathing.  It  was  the  one  first  made 
use  of,  and,  either  from  its  less  disagreeable 
taste  or  less  nauseating  qualities,  it  has 
always  been  more  resorted  to  than  the  rest, 
and  has  been  found  to  be  generally  more 
effective  as  a  curative  agent.  The  smaller 
proportion  of  hydrosulphuric  acid,  or  sul- 
phuretted hydrogen  gas,  contained  in  this 
water  than  in  that  of  the  other  springs,  makes 
it  less  liable  to  produce  nausea  and  vertigo, 
and  some  degree  of  oppression  to  which  they 
occasionally  give  rise. 

9* 


lii 


102      MINERAL  AND  THERMAL  SPEIXGS. 

The  water  issues  from  a  fissure  in  a  rock, 
thirtv-six    fjet    below  the    surface   of    the 
ground,  about  one  hundred  rods  Irom   the 
Genesee  Eiver,  and  about  thirty  rods  from 
the  Conesus  Creek.     The  volume  of  water 
discharged  from  the  spring  is  great,  being 
estimated  at  fifty -four  gallons  in  a  minute; 
and  it  is  the  same  at  all  seasons  of  the  year. 
The  temperature  is  45°  to  47°  F.     Specific 
gravity  1.0018.     It  is  limpid,  transparent, 
and  somewhat  sparkling.     Its  taste   is  de- 
cidedly sulphureous,  and  at  the  same  time 
bitter  and  saline.    An  analysis  by  Dr.  J.  E. 
Chilton  gave,  in  a  pint — 

Grains. 
3.58 


Carbonate  of  lime 
Clilovide  of  calcium 
Sulphate  of  lime 
Sulphate  of  magnesia 
Sulphate  of  soda 


1.05 
7.17 
6.21 
1.71 


19.72 

Cultic  Inches. 
The  gaseous  contents  were,  of  sulphuretted  hydrogen  1.32 

Carbonic  acid  .         .     0.50 
Nitrogen  .         .         .0.67 
And  a  minute  fraction  of  atmospheric  air. 

The  water  of  the  Lower  Spring  is,  it  will 
have  been  seen,  somewhat  richer  in  sab'ne 


IODINE  OR  SYLVAN  SPRINGS.  103 

contents,  and  has  less  sulphuretted  hydrogen 
than  that  of  the  Middle,  formerly  the  Upper 
Spring. 

Iodine  or  Sylvan  S2-)rmgs. —Ahowi  two  miles 
south  of  the  Lower  Spring,  we  meet  with 
this  group,  three  in  number,  of  one  of  which 
we  have  an  analysis.     The  three  are  distin- 
guishable from  the  ones  already  described 
by  their  saltish  taste,  which  is  owing  to  the 
predominance    of  the   chloride   of  °sodium. 
One  has  but  a  slight  sulphureous  impregna- 
tion, and   in  taste  resembles  the   Saratoga 
water,  after  exposure  of  this  latter  to  the  air 
and  the  escape  of  its  carbonic  acid.      The 
other  contains  iodide  of  sodium  together  with 
a  large  proportion  of  chloride  of  sodium.  An 
analysis  of  a  gallon  of  the  water  gave,  ac- 
cording to  Dr.  J.  E.  Chilton— 


Chloride  of  magnesium 
Chloride  of  sodium 
Sulphate  of  lime 
Sulphate  of  magnesia 
Carbonate  of  lime 
Carbonate  of  magnesia 
Vegetable  matter 
Iodide  of  sodium 


Grains. 
G2.400 
97.440 
80.426 
12.960- 
26.800 
15.974 
.240 


296.240 


m         I 


lO-i      MINERAL  AND  THERMAL  SPRINGS. 


lill 


m 


III 


Sulphuretted  hydrogen 
Carbonic  acid 


Culnc  Inches. 
,     20.C84 
.      4.992 

25.676 


Medicinal  Effects  of  the  Sharon  and  Avon 
Waters. — Although  the  Avon  is  stronger  in 
sulphureous  impregnation  than  the  Sharon 
Springs,  we  may  with  propriety  look  on  them 
both  as  possessing  nearly  the  same  therapeu- 
tical value,  and,  in  fact,  as  resembling  in  this 
respect  other  waters  of  their  class,  both  in 
New  York  and  in  Virginia.  "What  has  been 
said  of  the  stimulatii  g  effects  of  mineral 
waters  in  general,  is  particularly  applicable 
to  the  sulphureous.  These  latter  excite  the 
gastro-intestinal  mucous  membrane,  and,  ac- 
cording as  they  are  more  or  less  digested, 
they  will  produce  either  increase  of  appetite 
or  the  reverse  state;  either  constipation  or 
diarrhoea.  When  they  do  not  immediately 
act  as  purgatives,  they  quicken  the  pulse, 
give  rise  to  a  feeling  of  internal  heat,  and  to 
sleeplessness  and  restlessness,  a  state  of  ex- 
citement compared  by  Bordeu  to  that  pro- 
duced by  coffee,  and  which  may  be  carried 
tc  the  extent  of  a  slight  intoxication.    Their 


-5*1 


EFFECTS  OF  SULPHUR  WATERS.    105 

operation  is  terminated  by  a  copious  sweat, 
and  sometimes  an  exanthematons  eruption 
or  copious  discliarges  of  u -iue,  which  serve 
as  crises  in  most  chronic  diseases. 

It  is  not  easy  to  lay  down  the  period  in 
which  these  effects  of  sulphureous  waters  are 
fully  obtained.  The  picture  just  drawn  is  by 
a  French  hand,  and  in  its  composition  we 
must  make  allowance  for  the  circumstance 
of  the  writer  having  in  his  mind  the  action 
01  thermal  sulphureous  waters,  both  taken  as 
a  drink  and  used  as  a  bath.  At  the  same 
time  it  must  be  said,  that  the  same  general 
features  are  attributed  to  the  operation  of 
the  cold  sulphureous  springs  of  France, 
those  of  Enghien  for  example ;  and  we  may, 
in  comparing  them  with  observations  made 
at  home,  admit  their  general  accuracy. 

Coincident  with  this  view  is  the  opinion, 
based  on  large  experience,  that  sulphureous 
waters  exhibit  their  best  curative  effects,  not 
only  in  chronic  diseases,  to  which  their  use 
ought  always  to  be  restricted,  but  also  in  de- 
pressed and  exhausted  states  of  the  system,  in 
which  it  is  necessary  to  rouse  and  reanimate, 
as  it  were,  the  vital. energies,  and  to  restore 


106    :mineeal  and  thermal  spkings. 


nr 


active  sympathies  between  organs  which  had, 
to  a  certain  extent,  been  sevcroAl.  The  per- 
sons who  are  most  benefited  by  the  use  of 
these  waters,  are  those  of  a  lymphatic  or 
phlegmatic  temperament. 

In  the  professional  as  well  as  in  the  popu- 
lar creed,  the  use  of  sulphur  in  its  various 
states — fixed  and  volatile,  is  associated  with 
cutaneous  affections  of  a  chronic  nature,  and 
especially  the  varieties  of  psora  and  herpes. 
Sulphureous  waters  have  been  much  lauded 
in  what  are  vaguely  called  clironic  diseases  of 
the  chesty  and  in  which  have  been  included, 
not  only  pulmonary  catarrh  and  bronchitis, 
but  also  pneumonia,  pleurisy,  asthma  and 
phthisis  itself.     We  may  simplify  the  sub- 
ject by  fixing  our  attention  on  the  chief  path- 
ological element  in  these  different  diseases, 
to  which  our   therapeutics,   under   the  cir- 
cumstances, should  be  directed.     This  is  the 
chronic  irritation  and  inflammation  of  the 
bronchial  mucous  membrane,  in  which,  main- 
ly if  not  solely,  the  medication   by  these 
waters  will  be  found  serviceable  in  pectoral 
diseases.    By  restoring  or  moderating  when 
excessive,  and  otherwise  modlrying  its  secre- 


REVULSIVE  OPERATION. 


107 


tions,  we  may  hope  to  remove  simple  bron- 
chitis  itself,   and   to   mitigate    asthma   and 
chronic  pneumonia,  congestion,  and  phthisis, 
in  a  certain  stage  of  all  of  which  diseases  there 
is  often  symptomatic  or  secondary  bronchitis. 
On  the  lungs  proper,  in  the  m.orbid  changes 
to  which  they  are  subjected  by  chronic  he- 
patization, or  by  tubercular  deposit,  sulphu- 
reous waters  not  only  fail  to  exert  any  sana- 
tive or  controlling  influence,  but  they  prove 
absolutely    deleterious;    and    in    confirmed 
phthisis,  and   even   in   the  incipient  stage, 
when   accompar^'ed   with  febrile   irritation, 
they  accelerate  the  march  of  the  disease. 

It  has  been  contended  that  when  these 
waters  are  serviceable  in  pectoral  affections, 
their  salutary  efiects  are  obtained  by  revul- 
sive action— determination  to  the  skin,  and 
increase  of  its  perspiratory  function,  as  well 
as  diverting  the  fluids  from  the  centre  to  the 
periphery.  Such  results  are  most  likely  to 
follow  the  use  of  thermal  sulphureous  waters, 
and  still  more  readily  and  completu^y  if  they 
be  employed  at  the  same  time  as  a  bath.  But 
while  admitting  this  view,  which  to  a  conside- 
rable extent  is  the  correct  one,  it  ought  not  to 


108      MINERAL  AXD  TIIERMAii  SPRIN-GS. 


f 


Ml 


be  received  to  the  exclusion  of  a  belief  in 
the  directly  expectorant  operation  of  sulphu- 
reous waters.  As  eminently  diffusible  and 
reaching  all  membraneous  tissues,  so  as  to 
be  compared  to  mercury  itself,  we  cannot, 
witnessing  the  strong  action  of  this  remedy 
on  the  secretions  of  the  skin,  deny  ii  to  those 
of  the  mucous  membrane  which  lines  the  air 
passages. 

We  may,  I  think,  explain  by  these  two 
functional  actions  of  expectoration  and  per- 
spiration, under  the  use  of  moderate  doses  of 
the  milder  -ulphur  waters,  the  diminished 
frequency  of  the  pulse  and  the  abatement  of 
febrile  excitement,  which  have  caused  some 
of  them  to  b«^  regarded  as  sedatives,  although, 
ill  lact,  these  are  but  secondary  or  indirect 
results,  sequences  at  least  of  previous  excite- 
ment. This  order  of  succession  of  morbid 
phenomena  is  not  unusual  after  the  use  of 
admitted  stimulants  in  the  class  of  purga- 
tives and  diuretics,  as  well  as  when  other 
diaphoretics  and  expectorants  besides  the 
sulphureous  are  administered. 

With  the  return  to  a  qualified  belief  in 
humoral  pathology,  based  as  it  now  is  on  ex- 


CRISIS  OR  BATH  STORM. 


109 


perimental  knowledge,  we  can  treat  with  re- 
specttheopinicn^  of  those  European  Avriters 
who  explain  many  of  the  good  effects  from 
the  use  of  sulphureous  waters,  both  in  pec 
toral  and  other  diseases,  to  their  brino-ino- 
back  to  their  original  type,  and   at  time^ 
ehhiinating  from  the  organism  certain  mor- 
bific  principles  or  humors,  such  as  the  rheu- 
matic,  the  gouty,  the  herpetic,  and  the  psoric 
One  proof  of  these  remedies  having  accom- 
phshed   this  end,  is   supposed   to   bo   in  a 
"Crisis"  or  "Bath  Storm,"  a  general  stirrincr 
np   and   perturbation  of   all  the  functions" 
particularly  the  circulation  and   the  secre- 
tions,  and   above    all    of  those    from    the 
skm.     A  crisis  will  be  manifested  not  only 
by  copious  sweating,  but  also  by  increased 
intestinal  discharges,  or  by  the  supervention 
oi  exanthemata,  and  furuncles  on  the  skin 
or  of  abscesses  under  this  tegument  in  the 
cellular  tissue. 

These  waters  have  been  had  recourse  to 
beneficially  in  a  weakened  state  of  the  di- 
gestive apparatus,  unaccompanied  by  fever 
or  irritation,  or  when  there  is  no  morbid 
heat  of  the  skin,  or  dryness  and  redno...  nf 
10 


110      MINERAL  AND  THERMAL  SPRINGS. 

the  tongue.  They  are  useful  in  dyspepsia, 
when  the  appetite  is  deficient,  and  the  patient 
is  troubled  with  heart-burn;  also,  in  general 
debility,  not  maintained  by  inflammation  or 
irritative  fever;  in  indolent  engorgements 
of  the  liver  and  other  abdominal  viscera, 
resulting  from  periodical  fever;  in  chronic 
catarrh  of  the  bladder,  and  gravel ;  in  chlo- 
rosis, leucorrhcea,  inveterate  gonorrhoea,  and 
nocturnal  pollutions;  and  in  tremors,  and 
paralyses  caused  by  lead  poisoning. 

Eheumatism  will  be  benefited  by  the  use 
of  sulphureous  waters  in  proportion  to  its 
chronicity  and  the  absence  of  any  degree  of 
excitement,  and  probably,  also,  to  its  being 
associated  with  disordered  digestion.  It  is 
under  these  circumstances  that  the  nse  of 
the  warm  sulphur  bath,  or  even  a  bath  of 
common  therm  d  water,  will  accelerate  great- 
ly the  cure.  Other  disorders  from  suppressed 
perspiration,  such  as  stifiiiess  of  the  limbs 
and  partial  dropsy,  will  be  relieved  by  the 
same  treatment. 

In  scrofula,  rickets,  and  swellings  of  the 
lymphacic  glands,  the  administration  of  sul- 
phureous waters  has  been  with  mpny  a  fa- 


i 


SULPnUKEOUS  WATERS  IX  SCROFULA.      Ill 

vorite,  as  it  certainly  is  a  salutary,  mode  of 
practice.     There  is  not  only  an  amendment 
of  the  general  health  by  these  means  in  scro- 
fulous children,  as  evinced  by  their  improved 
digestion,  a  soft  and  supple,  in  place  of  a 
tumid  and  resisting  abdomen,  and  renewed 
strength ;  but,  also,  of  the  ulcers  and  fistu- 
lous cavities  which  assume  the  appearance 
and  character   of   common  and  well-condi- 
tioned sores.     Even  here  the  milder  sulphur 
waters,  or  the  stronger  in  small  quantities, 
are  to  be  preferred.     Iodine  in  the  form  of 
ointment  may  be  rubbed,  with  advantage,  on 
the  enlarged  lymphatic  glands,  and  applied  to 
the  scrofulous  ulcers,  during  the  continuance 
of  the  sulphureous  treatment.     Iron  is  also 
a  good  adjuvant  in  many  diseases  in  their 
less  active  forms,  or  in  an  atonic  state  of 
the  system,  in  which  the^sulphureous  waters 
have  been  recommended. 
■   By  French  writers,  the  triumph,  as  they 
call  it,  of  sulphureous  springs,  is  evinced  in 
the  treatment  of  wounds,  and  especially  of 
those  caused  by  fire-arms.     Above  all,  the 
waters  of  the  thermal  springs  of  the  Pyre- 
nees have,  for  the  last  century  and  a  half, 


«;i 


i 


112    :mineral  and  thermal  springs. 

been  eagerly  resorted  to  by  this  class  of  pa- 
tients, and  certainly  the  changes  in  the  con- 
dition of  large  numbers  of  them  by  this 
agency  have  been  most  surprising  and  even 
marvellous.  They  who  v/ent  lame,  and  halt, 
and  crippled,  and  distorted  in  limb  and  often 
in  body,  have  come  away  erect,  and  able,  not 
only  to  walk,  but  to  dance  and  to  indulge 
in  gymnastic  sports.  Much,  however,  very 
much  of  those  results  are  due  more  to  the 
thermal  than  the  sulphureous  character  of 
these  famed  springs,  and  to  the  combined  use 
of  their  waters  by  drinking  and  by  bathing. 
Our  Yirginip  friends,  and  the  good  people 
of  J^orth  Carolina  and  Arkansas,  and  the  in- 
habitants of  Deseret  and  the  regions  there- 
about, ought  to  study  and  ponder  well  on 
the  diversified  and  cidmirablo  results  in  the 
cure  of  disease  obtained  by  the  simple  ther- 
mal waters  of  Europe,  and  bestir  themselves 
accordingly  to  fit  up  suitable  balneatory 
establishments,  with  all  due  appliances  for 
douching  and  illutation,  or,  in  plainer  lan- 
guage, spout  and  mud  baths. 

Doctor  Salisbury,   in   his   sensible   little 
volume  on  the  Avon  Waters,  lays   down 


DYSPEPSIA— FEMALE  DISORDERS.       113 


witli  considerable  accuracy  the  indications 
for  their  medicinal  uses :  as,  for  example,  when 
there  is  a  call  for  increasing  the  action  of  the 
organs  or  of  the  tissues,  in  chronic  diseases 
of  the  liver,  and  in  chronic  rheumatism,  dis- 
eases of  the  skin,  and  of  the  urinary  pass- 
ages. "In  obstinate  dyspepsia  attending  a  de- 
bilitated or  depressed  state  of  the  digestive 
functions,  acidity,  flatulence,  and  heart-burn, 
in  that  which  succeeds  to  acute  diseases,  and 
is  accompanied  by  jaundice,  frequent  vomit- 
ing of  mucus,  pam  in  the  right  side,  or  in 
the  region  of  the  stomach,  this  remedy  may 
be  so  administered  as  often  to  afford  prompt 
and  effectual  relief."     The  writer  quotes  Dr. 
Frances  to  the  same  purport.     I  regret  not 
having  access  to  this  estimable  and  expe- 
rienced gentleman's   papers   on  the  Avon 
Springs.    Scrofula  and  asthma  are  mentioned 
by  Dr.  Salisbury  as  diseases  in  which  the 
curative  powers  of  these  waters  have  been 
exerted  in  a  marked  manner.     They  have, 
also,  he  tells  us,  been  much  and  beneficially  em- 
ployed in  chlorosis,  leucorrhoea,  amenorrhoea, 
and  difficult  and  painful  menstruation.     In 
the  sulphureous  treatment  of  these  disorders, 

10* 


1 

1 

?,■ 

114      MINERAL  AXD  THERMAL  SPRIXGS. 


we  mnrjt  continually  bear  ifl  mind  the  condi- 
tions on  which  alone  it  can  be  had  recourse 
to,  not  only  with  benefit  but  without  doing 
harm.  It  is  not  enough  for  us  to  know  that 
.  females  are  suffering  in  the  various  ways  just 
enumerated,  but  we  must  also  take  note  of 
their  temperament,  freedom  from  an  inflam- 
matory condition  of  any  part,  as  well  of  the 
uterine  as  of  the  digestive  system,  and  from 
chronic  pulmonary  disorder,  such,  more  par- 
ticularly, as  phthisis,  before  we  venture  to 
prescribe  a  course  of  these  waters.  In  the 
early  period  of  pregnancy,  they  ought  either 
to  be  withheld  e  itirely,  or  administered  with 
great  caution. 

Ac  regards  the  quantity  of  the  Avon 
v/ater  to  be  drunk  in  a  given  time,  Dr.  Salis- 
bury tells  us  that,  generally  speaking,  four 
to  six  half-pint  tumblerfuls,  during  the  day, 
produce  a  mild  cathartic  effect.  "  In  larger 
dose  ,  they  operate  powerfully  upon  the 
bowels  and  kidneys."  Their  alterative  effects 
are  of  course  to  be  obtained  bj  the  moderate 
use  of  them,  and  in  much  smaller  quantities 
than  those  given  with  a  view  to  their  cathar- 
tic operation. 


WARMING  THE  SULPHUR  WATER.       115 

An  aperient  effect  is  more  readily  obtained 
by  warming  the  sulphur  water,  although  by 
this  process  it  loses  a  portion  of  its  sulphu- 
retted hydrogen,  and  if  continued,  the  whole 
of  this  gas  would  be  evolved.     Certainly  by 
this  means  it  sits  more  easily  on  the  stomach 
of  a  delicate  invalid,  and  exerts  a  kindlier 
effect  afterwards.     In  some  cases  of  gastral- 
gia  and  weakened  state  of  the  stomach,  with 
general  debility  and  languid  circulation,  the 
cold   water   from   the   spring  could  not  be 
borne.     It  is  worthy  of  remark,  in  this  place, 
that  the  most  celebrated  of  the  thermal  sul- 
phureous springs  of  the  Pyrenees   do   not 
contain  any  sulphuretted  hydrogen,  and  the 
only  gaseous  constituent  in  some  of  them  is 
azote.     This  is  the  case  with  the  springs  of 
Bareges,    Saint    Sauveur,    Cauterets,   Eaux 
Chaudec,  and  Bagneres  de  Luchon.     Those 
of  Bounes  have  a  small  proportion  of  sul- 
phuretted hydrogen,  and  of  carbonic  acid  in 
nearly  equal  quantity.    In  all  of  thcin  the 
sulphur  is  combined  with  sodium,  in  the  state 
of  a  sulphuret,  and  on  this  salt  depend  their 
sulphureous  properties.     Does  it  exist  in  our 
sulphur  waters?    As  yet  it  has  not  been  ex- 


1^5 


116      MINERAL  AND  TIIERIvIAL  SPRINGS. 

hibited  in  any  of  them  by  analysis.  When 
spealving  of  the  Virginia  Springs,  I  shall 
allude  to  a  division  of  sulphureous  waters, 
based  in  part  on  some  of  them  being  impreg- 
nated with  sulphuretted  hydrogen,  and  others 
with  the  sulphuret  of  sodium. 

Keverting  to  the  dose  of  the  Avon  and 
other  Vvuters  of  the  same  nature,  viewed  as 
alteratives,  if  the  general  indications  point  to 
their  use  but  they  are  found  in  the  common 
quantity  to  be  irritating  or  oppressive,  we 
ought  to  reduce  the  dose  to  a  minimum,  and 
some  might  think  inert  proportion.  Even 
the  comparatively  mild  waters  of  Saint  Sau- 
veur,  which  cor.tain  not  a  fifth  of  a  grain  of 
sulphuret  of  sodium  in  the  pint,  and  not  a 
fourth  of  the  saline  contents  of  those  of  Avon, 
are  prescribed  by  the  experienced  M.  Fabas, 
at  first  in  a  dose  of  only  three  or  four  ounces, 
gradually  increased.  It  will  be  remembered, 
however,  that  they  are  thermal,  or  from  86° 
to  95°  F.  With  our  notions  of  heroic  or 
energetic  practice,  we  may  feel  disposed  to 
smile  at  this  which  some  will  call  a  timid  and 
inefficient  course;  but  in  the  treatment  of 
chronic  disease,  we  must  often  descend  from 


GRADUATED  DOSES  OF  THE  WATER.      11 


the  heroics,  and  admit  more  largely  into  our 
calculations,  as  important  elements,  time  and 
nature.  While  doing  so,  we  shall  be  able  to 
draw  largely  from  the  experience  afforded  by 
clinical  practice  at  mineral  springs,  which 
as  yet  is  barely  begun  in  the  United  States. 

It  has  been  observed  by  some  of  the  phy- 
sicians  at  the  Pyrenean  Springs,  and  the  re- 
mark is  worthy  of  being  remembered,  that 
the  exciting  effects  of  sulphureous  waters 
are  most  evident  on  persons  in  health,  and 
especially  on  those  of  a  sanguine  and  excita- 
ble temperament ;  and  that  their  use  is  much 
better  borne  in  a  state  of  disease.  The  tole- 
ration in  this  respect  is  diminished  as  conva- 
lescence approaches;  and  hence  the  propriety 
of  gradually  diminishing  the  quantity  of  the 
water  to  be  drunk  in  the  last  period  of  the 
treatment,  and  for  the  reason  already  assign- 
ed, of  increasing  it  in  the  first  period. 

The  external  use  of  the  Avon  waters  by 
hatUng  ought  to  accompany  their  use  as  a 
drink  in  most  of  the  diseases  to  which  they 
are  deemed  appropriate.  More  especially 
does  this  advice  hold  in  cases  of  chronic 
cutaneous  diseases,  and  of  chronic  rheuma- 


118      MIXEKAL  AND  THERMAL  SPRINGS. 


i^  »i 


tism,  and  in  tlios3  in  which  a  revulsive  action 
is  desired  for  the  relief  of  internal  organs. 
AVith  few  exceptions,  the  temperature  of  the 
water  for  the  bath  ought  to  be  raised  by  arti- 
ficial means,  so  as  to  render  it  tepid  or  warm, 
and,  on  rarer  occasions,  hot,  according  as 
there  are  cutaneous  excitement  and  general 
irritation,  or  the  reverse  state  of  atony  of 
the  skin  and  general  debility.  The  latter 
will  authorize  a  bath  of  a  temperature  ap- 
proaching to  the  hot,  the  former  one  of  a 
lower  temperature,  bringing  it  down  to  the 
tepid. 

In  the  absence  of  more  precise  details  and 
specifications,  such  as  we  find  in  the  little 
volume  by  Dr.  Salisbury  on  the  Avon  w\n,ters, 
the  reader  may  apply  what  has  been  said  of 
these  latter,  and  of  the  action  of  the  sulphure- 
ous class  in  general,  to  the  use  of  the  Sharon 
Waters^  the  popularity  of  which,  on  what  we 
must  believe  to  be  good  grounds,  is  growing 
from  year  to  year.  Strong  testimony  is  borne 
in  favor  of  the  efficacy  of  bathing  in  the  wa- 
ter of  the  White  Sulphur  Spring  at  Sharon. 

Excursions  in  the  course  of  the  Genesee 
Eiver  may  be  made  by  visitors  to  Avon, 


LAKE  COXESUS. 


119 


which  will  afford  them  views  of  scencrv  of 
great  variety  and  grandeur;  as,  for  instance, 
the  Falls  at  Portage  and  the  Upper  Falls  at 
Nevada.  "There  is  a  beautiful  and  clear 
lake,  called  the  Conesus,  about  six  miles 
from  the  springs.  Three  miles  from  its  out- 
let is  a  cape  of  forest  land,  extending  far  out 
on  the  lake,  which  has  been  for  some  years 
past  a  favorite  resort  for  parties  of  pleasure. 
The  lovers  of  romantic  scenery  vrill  pass  a 
day  here  with  delight." 


120      MINERAL  AND  THERMAL  SPRINGS. 


CIIAPTEE  yil. 

other  Sulphur  Springs  of  New  York— Clifton— Chitte- 
nango — Manlius  Springs  and  Lake — Messina — Auburn 
—  Rochester  —  Verona  —  Saquoit  —  Newburgh  —  Al- 
bany, &c.  &c. 

Clifton  Springs. — These  will  probably  rank 
after  tlie  Avon  and  Sharon,  as  amonir  the 
most  active  in  the  State.  They  are,  we  be- 
lieve, the  same  as  those  described  by  Mr. 
Hall  in  the  eastern  part  of  the  town  of  Man- 
chester, Ontario  County,  and  on  the  road  from 
Vienna  to  Canandaigua.  The  odor  of  the 
gas  which  they  give  out  is  perceptible  at  the 
distance  of  a  quarter  of  a  mile.  From  one 
of  the  springs  the  quantity  of  water  dis- 
charged is  unusually  large.  Deposits  of 
carbonate  of  lime  and  sulphur  are  found  in 
the  vicinity.  All  these  springs,  as  we  learn 
from  Dr.  Beck,  as  well  as  those  which  occur 
at  Avon,  have  their  origin  in  the  hydraulic 
limestone,  near  its  junction  with  the  lime- 
stone above.    Temperature  51°  F. 


diseas 


CIIITTEXAXGO  SPRINGS. 


121 


Ch lUenmgo  ^Spnngs.—l^^hQy  arc  situated  in 
tlie  valley  of  the  ChittenaDgo  Creek,  in  the 
vicinity  of  the  village  of  the  same  iiLne,  in 
Madison  County,  and  issue  from  the  inil'  of 
calciferous  slate  which  here  forms  the  eastern 
boundary   of   the   valley.     The   two   chief 
springs  on  the  lands  of  .Air.  Yates  and  Jud-e 
Warner-the  first  about  a  mile,  the  second 
two  miles  from  the  village-have  a  tempera- 
ture of  49°  I^.,  and  contain,  together  with 
carbonates  and  sulphates  of  lime,  sulphate  of 
magnesia  and  chloride  of  sodium,  sulphuret- 
ted hydrogen  gas  and  carbonic  acid.     The 
spring  of  Mr.  Y..  3  has  also  su.  phate  of  soda 
in  solution.     The  water  of  that  of  Judge 
Warner,  when  fresh  from  the  spring,  has  an 
opaline  or  milky  appearance,  which  disap- 
pears on  boiling.     A  whitish  precipitate  is 
found  at  this  time.     Incrustations  of  sulphur, 
and  of  carbonate  and  sulphate  of  lime  are 
seen  on  leaves,  twigs,  and  pieces  of  Avood  in 
the  vicinity  of  both  of  these  springs. 

"The    waters  just   described,""  adds  Dr. 
Beck,  "  are  highly  esteemed  in  many  cases  of 
disease,  and  their  location  is  so  eligible  that 
11 


m 


122      MINERAL  AND  THERMAL  SrRIXG3. 

T  do  not  doubt  tliat,  when  they  are  l3etter 
known,  they  will  be  much  resorted  to." 

Mardius  Springs  and  Lake. — Tlicse  and 
other  sulphureous  springs  of  Ononciaga 
County  are  more  numerous  and  better  known 
than  those  of  ^ladison  County.  About  a 
mile  from  Manlius  Square  are  three  springs 
very  near  to  each  other,  all  of  which  are 
feebly  charged  with  sulphuretted  hydrogen. 
Iney  have  also  a  slightly  saline  taste,  and 
have  acquired  some  reputation  in  the  vicinity. 

Two  miljb  east  of  Manlius  Centre  is  a 
sulphureous  lake  or  pool,  known  by  the  name 
of  Lake  Sodom  or  Green  Pond.  It  is  about 
a  mile  and  a  half  in  length,  and  half  a  mile 
in  breadth  at  the  widest  part.  The  depth 
gradually  increases^  as  we  proceed  from  the 
northern  outlet,  from  twenty-five  to  a  hun- 
dred and  sixty-eight  feet,  at  what  is  probably 
the  centre  of  th.  basin.  Water  drawn  from 
this  depth  was  found  to  be  highly  charged 
with  sulphuretted  hydrogen.  It  is  of  a  deep 
green  color,  which  Dr.  Beck,  to  whom  I  am 
indebted  for  the  entire  description  of  this 
water,  suggests  is  probably  owing  to  the 
partial  decomposition  of  the   sulphuretted 


¥ 


MESSINA  SULPHUR  SPRINGS.  123 

liydrogcn.    Its  specific  gravity  is  scarcely 
above  that  of  common  water. 

Sulpburetted  bydrogen  gas  is  evolved  in 
great  ciuantities  ia  tbe  immediate  vicinity  of 
the  Salt  Springs  at  Salina  and  Syracuse. 
A  spring  on  tbe  grounds  of  Mr.  E.  1^\  Wal- 
lace,  of  Syracuse  furnisbes  a  sulpbureo-salino 
water,  in  one  pint  of  wbicb  tbere  arc  132 
grains  of  cbloride  of  sodium.  Its  gaseous 
contents  are  sulpburetted  bydrogen  and  car- 
bonic acid.  Anotber  spring  of  a  similar 
character,  a  mile  distant,  is  found  in  tbe 
marsb  near  tbe  Salina  Well. 

Messina  Sulphur  Springs.^They  arc  situ- 
ated in  a  ravine  near  to  tbat  in  wbicb  are 
found  tbe  springs  of  Manlius  and  Cbittenango, 
three  miles  northeast  of  Syracuse,  and  a  niile 
north  of  the  Erie  Canal.  They  rise  through 
a  limestone  formation,  on  the  surface  of  which 
are  everywhere  found  masses  of  calcareous 
tufa.  Tbe  temperature  is  uniformly  50°  F. 
Tbe  water  has  a  sirong  sulphureous  taste,  but 
is  not  so  highly  charged  with  sulpburetted 
bydrogen  as  that  of  some  other  springs.  It 
is  used  with  good  eftect  in  many  drseases. 
Its  composition  in  a  pint  is  as  follows :— 


V. 


m   y 


124      MINERAL  AND  THERMAL  SPRINGS. 


Carbonate  of  lime 
Sulphate  of  lime 
Sulphate  of  magnesia 
Chloride  of  calcium 


Grains. 

1.85 
8.55 
1.3G 
1.33 


13.09 


It  lias  been  remarked  by  Dr.  Beck  that 
the  number  o^'  springs  of  this  class  increases 
as  we  go  westwardly  in  the  State. 

Auburn  Springs. — One  of  these  is  in  the 
town  of  Sennett,  two  miles  north  of  the  vil- 
lage of  Auburn,  in  Cayuga  County.  Another, 
which  has  acquired  some  reputation,  is  situ- 
ated about  ur  miles  west  of  Auburn,  on  the 
farm  of  Mr.  Nelson  Van  Ness.  It  is  called 
the  West  Auburn  Spring.  An  analysis  by 
Dr.  Chilton  exhibits  the  following  substances 
in  a  pint  of  the  water : — 


Sulphate  of  lime    . 
Sulphate  of  magnesia     , 
Chloride  of  magnesium 
Chloride  of  sodium 


Grains. 
.  15.00 
.  3.20 
.  0.25 
.     0.75 


19.20 


Sulphuretted  hydrogen  gas  1.5  cubic  inches. 

At  Spring  MiUs^  on  the  eastern  shore  of 
Cayuga  Lake,  a  sulphureous  water  is  said  to 


11  i 


ROCHESTEK  SPRING. 


125 


isjue  from  the  eartli  in  quantities  salTicient 
to  turn  a  grist-mill.  It  is  perfectly  limpid, 
and  has  a  strong  taste  and  smell  of  sulphu- 
retted hydrogen. 

Rochester  Spring.— In  the  city  of  Eochcster, 
on  the  east  bank  of  the  Genesee,  is  Long- 
muir's  sulphur  spring,  the  waters  of  which 
are  much  employed  by  the  inhabitants.  It 
rises  through  a  boring  of  two  hundred  feet  in 
depth.  Its  temperature  is  usually  52°  F., 
affording  an  instance  of  the  Increase  of  tem- 
perature  of  the  earth  as  we  descend  beneath 
the  surface.  When  heated  to  100°  F.,  it  de- 
posits sulphur  and  carbonate  of  lime.  Its 
specific  gravity  is  1.00:t07.  One  pint  of  the 
water  contains — 

Grains. 
Carbonate  of  lime  and  magnesia  with  a  trace 

«f»'°n 1.48 

Cliloride  of  sodium        .         .  a  \n 

Sulphate  of  soda g  99 

Gaseous  contents:  sulphuretted  hj'dro^-en 
2.16  cubic  inches,  with  a  small  quantity  of 
carbonic  acid. 

In  proof  of  the  copious  evolution  of  sul 

11^ 


II 


12G      MINERAL  AND  THERMAL  SPRINGS. 


ki 


i  •  1  !,^ 


pliurotted  hydrogen  in  this  district,  Dr.  Beck 
mentions  the  fact,  in  reference  to  the  Caledo- 
nia Springs  in  the  town  of  Wheatland,  that 
the  whole  of  a  large  volume  of  water  which 
crushes  out  of  the  earth,  so  as  to  form  a  stream 
nearly  one-quarter  of  the  size  of  the  Genesee 
Eiver  at  Eochester,  is  slightly  impregnated 
with  this  gas. 

In  this  county  (Monroe)  we  meet  also  with 
the  sulphureous  springs  of  Mendon,  Gates, 
and  Pittsford,  at  all  of  which,  as  well  as 
those  of  Rochester,  there  are  bathing-houses 
and  ample  accommodations  for  visitors. 
More  abundant  in  sulphuretted  hydrogen 
than  any  other  in  the  county,  is  a  spring 
at  the  village  of  Or/den^  in  the  township  of 
the  same  name,  one  and  a  half  miles  south  of 
Spencer's  Basin. 

Verona  Sj^ring. — This  spring  is  1-i  miles 
from  Utica,  in  Oneida  County.  Its  water,  as 
analyzed  by  Professor  ISToyes,  gave  the  fol- 
lowing constituents  in  a  pint: — 

Grains. 
Chloride  of  calcium,  witli  chloride  of  magne- 
sium          8.50 

Sulphate  of  lime 7.50 

Chloride  of  sodium 90.00 


lOfi.OO 


SAQUOIT  SULPHUR  SPRINGS.  127 


Tlie  water  is  supposed  to  be  nearly  satu- 
rated with  sulphuretted  hydrogen  gas. 

Saquoit  Simngs.  — The  water  of  these 
springs,  nine  and  a  half  miles  south  of  Utica, 
is  highly  charged  with  sulphuretted  and  car- 
buretted  hydrogen,  and  contains  the  chlorides 
of  sodium  and  magnesium  in  considerable 
quantities,  together  with  a  little  sulphate  of 
lime  and  a  trace  of  iron.  The  gas  r^ses  from 
the  water  in  such  abundance  as  to  allow  of 
its  being  conducted  through  tubes,  and  to  be 
kept  continually  burning. 

Sulphur  Springs  of  Niagara  County.— Th.\s 
county  is  no  less  abundantly  supplied  with 
sulphur  springs  than  those  which  have  been 
already  noticed.  Among  them  may  be  men- 
tioned those  in  the  town  of  Pendleton,  near 
the  canal,  at  Lockport,  two  miles  from  Tona- 
wanda ;  in  the  vicinity  of  Lewistown,  and  of 
the  Falls  of  Niagara. 

Seneca  or  Deer  Lich  Sp^rings  are  about  four 
miles  from  Buffalo  (Erie  County),  and  issue 
from  opposite  sides  of  the  stream  on  which 
they  are  situated.  They  give  out  sulphuretted 
hydrogen  largely,  and  contain  of  saline  sub- 
stances, carbonates   of  lime,  magnesia,  and 


III 

ill 


128      MINEKAL  AND  THERMAL  SPRINGS. 

soda,  together  with  sulphate  of  lime  in  nota- 
ble quantities. 

There  is  an  acid  spring  on  Grand  Island. 

Sulphur  springs  are  also  found  in  Northern 
!N"ew  York,  in  the  counties  of  Clinton,  St. 
Lawrence,  and  Lewis. 

In  the  Valley  of  the  Hudson^  beginning  at 
the  southern  part  of  the  State,  sulphureous 
springs  are  found   at  short   intervals  from 
near  Sing  Sing,  in  Westchester  County,  to 
Fort  Miller,  in  Washington  County,  a  dis- 
tance of  nearly  a  hundred  and  fifty  miles. 
They  occur  on  both  sides  of  the  Hudson,  and 
usually  rise   through   the   strata  of  glazed 
black  slate  which  is  found  throughout  nearly 
the  whole  of  this  extent.     Of  these  springs, 
we  may  mention,  after  Dr.  Beck,  the  Chaj-)- 
pequa  Spring^  four  miles  northeast  of  Sing- 
Sing,  which  issues  from  a  cleft  in  the  rock 
near  the  base  of  a  hill,  about  two  hundred 
feet  in  height.     The   salts  held  in  solution 
are  said  to  be  the  sulphate  of  lime,  chloride 
of  calcium,  a.id  the  muriate  of  iron  and  man- 
ganese. 

Hanowgate  S^rnngs^  near  the  village  of 


pll 


SPRINGS  IN  THE  HUDSON  VALLEY.      129 

Grecnbusli,  and  a  spring  near  the  north  end 
of  the  city  of  Troy,  are  in  KensseLaer  County. 

The  sulphureous  springs  of  Saratoga 
County  have  been  already  mentioned. 

Newhurjh  Sj)nng  is  in  Orange  County. 
In  Albany  County,  also,  there  are  several 
springs  of  this  class;  one  of  them  in  AYen- 
dell's  Hollow,  near  the  city  of  Albany. 

In  Dutchess  County  is  a  sulphur  spring  near 
Ameniaville;  and  there  are  several  in  Co- 
lumlia,  one  of  which  is  on  McNaughton's 
farm,  between  Lebanon  Springs  and  the 
Shaker  Village ;  and  another  near  Kinder- 
hook. 

CatsJdll  Sjoring. — This  sulphureous  Avater 
rises  within  two  mdes  of  the  village  of  Cats- 
kill,  Greene  County.  There  are  several  others 
in  the  same  county. 

In  the  southivestern  counties  we  have  to  re- 
cord the  existence  of  numerous  sulphureous 
springs. 

The  Nanticolce  Sjmny,  in  Broome  County, 
was  formerly  in  considerable  repute. 

Dryden  jS^orinys,  in  the  town  of  the  same 
name,  and  ten  miles  east  of  Ithaca,  in  Tomp- 
kin's  County,  have  acquired  some  celebrity. 


J 

1. 

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H' 

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1 

130      :\IINERAL  AND  THERMAL  SPRINGS. 

The  counties  of  Chenango,  Tioga,  Stephen, 
and  Cattaraugus  have  their  sulphur  springs. 

In  Chautauque  County^  sulphur  springs  are 
of  frequent  occurrence,  and,  as  stated  by  Dr. 
Beck,  they  have  apparently  some  connection 
with  the  issues  of  carburetted  hydrogen  gas, 
for  which  this  county  has  become  so  cele- 
brated. Sulphureous  springs  are  found  at 
Fredonia,  and  on  the  shore  of  Lake  Erie 
about  a  mile  east  of  Yan  Buren  Harbor. 


ACID  SPRINGS. 


131 


CHAPTEE  YIII. 

Acid  Springs,  called  also  Alum  Springs— Byron  Acid  or 
Sour  Springs— Oak  Orchard  Acid  Springs— Tiieir  coni- 
positiou— Diseases  ia  ■whicli  used— Acid  Springs  in 
South  America— Nitrogen  and  Thermal  Spring  of 
Lebanon— Brines,  or  Salt  Springs— Gas  Springs. 

ACID  SPRINGS. 

These  springs  are  thus  designated  on  ac- 
count of  tlie  exccLS  of  sulphuric  acid  in  their 
waters,  which  is  perceptible  both  to  the  taste 
and  by  reagents.  They  also  contain,  in  con- 
siderable proportions,  sulphates  of  alumina 
and  of  iron,  and  hence  we  shall  find  them  de- 
signated as  alum  springs;  and  they  might, 
also,  \vith  propriety,  be  ranked  under  the 
head  of  chahjheate.  They  are  found  chiefly 
in  New  York  and  in  Virginia.  I  shall  no- 
tice, now,  those  of  the  first  mentioned  State; 
and,  as  in  the  case  of  the  sulphureous  springs, 
draw  largely  from  Dr.  Beck's  oft  quoted 
volume,  ''Mineralogy  of  Nei'j  YorhJ' 

Byron  Acid  or  Sour  jSprings.— There  are 


li 


132      IMINERAL  AXD  THERMAL  SPRINGS. 

two  acid  springs  in  the  town  of  Byron,  Gene- 
see County.  The  first  is  in  the  southwest 
corner  of  the  town,  and  rises  from  a  hilloclc 
about  two  hundred  and  thirty  feet  long  and 
one  hundred  feet  broad,  elevated  four  or 
five  feet  above  the  surrounding  plain.  Ac- 
cording to  Professor  Eaton,  the  strength  of 
the  acid  increases  in  a  drought.  Wherever 
holes  were  sunk  in  the  hill,  the  acid  accumu- 
lated, and  also  in  the  depressions  of  the  con- 
tiguous meadow-grounds. 

There  is  another  acid  spring,  a  hundred 
rods  west  of  Byron  Hotel  and  two  miles 
east  of  the  former,  which  is  remarkable  in 
consequence  of  the  great  quantity  of  acid 
contained  in  its  water.  This  spring  issues 
from  the  earth  in  sufficient  quantity  to  turn 
a  grist-mill.  There  is  said  to  be  several 
other  acid  or  sour  springs  in  this  vicinity. 

The  acid  liquid  is  described  by  Dr.  Beck 
to  be  transparent  and  colorless,  and  to  have 
a  specific  gravity  of  llVdO-i  at  60°  F.  It 
reddens  litmus  powerfully,  and  has  an  in- 
tensely sour  taste.  The  lime  and  oxide  of 
iron  indicated  by  tests,  are  in  very  small  pro- 
portion, as  is  evident  from  the  fact  that,  when 


OAK  ORCHARD  SPRINGS. 


133 


the  liqu''I  is  evaporated,  only  a  trifling  resi- 
duum is  left.  "  It  is  a  nearly  pure,  though 
dilute  sulphuric  acid,  and  not  a  solution  of 
acid  salts,  as  has  been  supposed ;  for  the  bases 
are  in  too  minute  a  proportion  to  warrant  the 
latter  opinion. 

"The  brownish  matter,  or  acid  earth,  is 
principally  vegetable  matter,  charred  by  the 
action  of  the  acid ;  but  it  also  contains  some 
silica  and  alumina,  with  a  minute  quantity  of 
lime  and  oxide  of  iron.  When  this  matter  is 
boiled  in  water,  a  solution  is  obtained  which 
possesses  all  the  properties  of  the  liquor  just 
described." 

Acid  springs  or  wells  are  also  found  in  the 
town  of  Bergen,  in  this  county. 

Oah  Orchard  Acid  Springs. — Within  a  few 
years  past,  attention  has  been  directed  to  these 
springs,  eight  in  number,  which  are  eight 
miles  southeast  from  Lockport,  in  Genesee 
County,  and  six  and  a  half  miles  from  the  vil- 
lage of  Medina,  on  the  Erie  Canal.  Analyses 
by  Dr.  Chilton  and  Professor  Emmons,  show 
them  to  be  not  only  acid,  but,  also,  saline 
waters  of  great  therapeutic  value. 

The  following  ingredients  were  found  in  a 
12 


:M 


104      [MINERAL  AND  THERMAL  SPRINGS. 


«■ 


i 


iH  m 


mil 

Wk'ii 

Mil 

^Hl 

ffli 

1 

Hi 

ii 

Hi 

gallon  of  the  water,  by  Dr.  Cliiuon'i  analy- 
sis:— 


Free  sulplniric  acid 
Sulphate  of  lime  . 
Protosulpjiate  of  iron 
Sulphate  of  alumina 
Sulphate  of  magnesia 
Silica  . 
Organic  extractive  matter 


Grains. 

82.06 

39.GO 

14.32 

9.G8 

8.28 

1.04 

3.28 

159.10 


Equal  to  about  20  grains  in  a  pint 

The  analysis  of  Spring  No.  1,  by  Professor 
Emmons,  gave  a  much  larger  proportion  of 
the  above  constituents.  In  one  pint  of  the 
water  he  found  of — 


Free  sulphuric  acid     'i 
Sulphate  of  protoxide  of  iron 
Sulphate  of  lime  . 
Sulphate  of  magnesia  . 

Silica 

Organic  matter    . 


Grains. 

31.50 
19.50 
4.50 
2.00 
0.33 
1.33 

59.10 


Equal  to  473.28  grs.  in  a  gallon  . 

Spring  No.  2  had  but  24.25  grains  of  free 
acid  and  of  saline  contents  in  the  pint,  and 
No.  3  only  19.33  grains.  Differences  in  the 
strength  of  the  several  springs  will  depend 
on  the  volume  of  water  which  passes  through 


EFFECTS  OF  THE  ACID  WATERS.        135 

the  bed  or  rock  in  ^vhicli  the  acid  and  salts 
are  found  ;  and  difTerences  observable  in  the 
strength  of  the  same  water  at  different  times 
are  explained  by  tlie  different  amounts  of 
meteoric  ^yater  which  percolates  through  the 
bed  or  rock  at  different  times,  accordbg  as 
there  has  been  light  or  heavy  rains. 

Medicinally  considered,  these  acid  waters, 
as  might  be  inferred  from  their  composition,' 
have  a  powerful  astringent  and  tonic  effect 
in  debilitated  states  of  the  general  system 
and   in  enfeebled  function  of  different  or- 
gans, especially  of  the  digestive  and  uterine 
accompanied  with  perverted  secretions  and 
exhausting  discharges,  as  in  pyrosis,  gastro- 
dyuia,  chronic  diarrhoea,  and  chronic  dysen- 
terj-  and  leucorrhoea:  also,  in  chronic  affec- 
tions of  the  kidneys  and  bladder.   To  this  list. 
Dr.  S.  P.  White,  in  a  papei    -ead  before  the 
New  York  Academy  of  Medicine  (December 
6, 1848),  on  tbese  springs,  adds  diabetes,  pas- 
sive hemorrhage,  such  ^^  purpura  hremorrha- 
gica,  some  of  the  cutaneous  diseases,  and  the 
colliqi^ative  sweats  of  hectic  fever.   He  thinks 
it  is  entitled  to  consideration,  also,  in  the 
phosphatic  diathesis,  accompanied  by  deposits 


.  tl- 


§■ 


136      MINERAL  AND  THERMAL  SPRINGS. 

of  the  pliospliatcs,  and  ia  colica  pictonum  and 
asthma,  as  well  as  in  chronic  pharyngitis  and 
laryngitis,  and  chronic  conjunctivitis.  Dr. 
Spring  found  it  to  give  entire  relief  in  a  case 
of  diarrhccn  of  three  years'  duration. 

The  dose  recommenJled  by  Dr.  White,  is 
about  a  third  of  a  wineglassful,  diluted  with 
simple  water,  three  times  a  day.  Locally,  it 
is  applied  with  advantage  to  chronic  ulcers 
of  the  skin  and  throat,  and  in  indolent  cuta- 
neous eruptions,  as  also  in  chronic  conjunc- 
tivitis, and  discharges  from  the  car. 

There  is  an  acid  spring  at  Clifton  Springs, 
twelve  miles  northwest  of  Geneva. 

The  traveller  in  New  Grenada  sees  not  only 
a  spring,  but  a  stream  of  some  magnitude, 
largely  impregnated  Vv'ith  sulphuric  acid. 
It  is  called,  on  account  of  its  sourness.  Bio 
Vinaigro,  and  also  Passambio.  Its  mineral 
impregnation  is  slight,  for  of  all  the  sub- 
stances held  in  solution  by  the  water,  equal 
only  to  2.87  parts  in  1,000,  the  sulphuric 
acid  amounted  to  1.11,  and  the  hydrochloric 
or  muriatic  0.91  =  2.02,  leaving  only  0.85  of 
solid  contents.  In  the  smallness  of  these 
latter,  this  water  seems  to  resemble  that  of 


SPRING  OF  PARAMO  DE  RUIZ. 


137 


II 


BjTon.  Not  so,  however,  in  reference  to 
its  acid,  the  quantity  of  which,  delivered  in 
tv/enty-four  hours,  is  38.611  kilogrammes, 
or  84,750  pounds  avoirdupois  in  3J:,78-1,G40 
cuoic  metres  of  water. 

Even  more  remarkable  than  the  one  just 
described  is  the  mineral  acid  spring  of  Pa- 
m)io  de  Ruiz,  in  Xew  Grenada,  which  issues 
with  an  abundant  supply  of  water  at  an  ele- 
vation of  3,800  metres,  or  about  12,450  feet 
abpve  the  ocean,  where  the  Guali,  a  tributary 
of  the  Eio  Grande  de  la  Magdalena,  takes  its 
origin.  Boussingault  thinks  it  probable  that 
this  spring  comes  from  trachyte.  Its  water 
is  thermal,  having  a  temperature  of  157°  F. 
Euiz  is  an  active  volcano.  The  water  ana- 
lyzed by  M.  Levy  gave,  in  1,000  parts — 

Grains. 
Sulphuric  acid  .         ....     5.181  ^^^p.^ 


Hydrochiori  1  acid 

Alumen 

Lime 

Soda 

Silica 

Magnesia 

Oxide  of  iron 


0.881  i 

0.500 

0.140 

0.3G0 

0.183 

0.320 

0.365 

7.930 


12 


^ 


138      MINERAL  AND  THERMAL  SPRINGS. 

We  see  the  sa  le  basic  substances  here  as 
those  ill  the  Oa'c  Orchard  Springs,  with  the 
difference  of  soda,  which  is  wanting  in  the 
latter. 

The  spring  of  Eio  Yinaigro  originates 
from  the  volcano  of  Paraco.  The  coldness 
of  its  water  is  owing,  Boussingault  thinks, 
to  the  melted  snow  mixing  in  its  downward 
course  with  the  acid  springs  of  volcanic 
origin.  Acid  springs  are  not  confined  to 
the  volcanoes  of  Ruiz  and  Purace.  Five 
cascades  of  strongly  acidulated  water  ^iere 
seen  by  the  traveller  just  named,  near  the 
Indian  village  of  Genoi,  when  he  was  as- 
cending the  crater  of  Pasto. 

Acid  springs  issue  at  nearly  the  same  ele- 
vation as  that  in  which  the  best  kinds  of 
cinchona  grow,  and  in  the  same  neighbor- 
hood. Here,  then,  at  a  comparatively  mode- 
rate expense,  the  manufacture  of  suljDhate  of 
quinine  might  be  carried  on. 

LEBANON  SPRING. 

This  is  ranked,  on  the  score  of  tempera- 
ture, among  the  thermal  springs,  and  of 
gaseous   impregnation,  among  the  nitrogen 


LEBAXON  SPRING. 


139 


ones.  The  water  is  consi-antly  at  73°  F., 
while  that  of  the  other  springs  in  the  count}' 
(Columbia)  is  52°  F.  Its  saline  imp]-cgnatioii 
is  very  slight,  being  only  a  grain  \nd  a 
quarter  in  the  pint.  The  temperature  is 
such  as  to  render  the  Lebanon  water  a  de- 
hghtful  bath.  So  copious  is  the  supply  that 
nof  only  is  there  an  abundance  for  all  the 
baths;  but  there  is  also  enough  to  turn  two 
or  three  mills,  erected  within  a  short  distance. 
These  are  kept  running  during  even  the 
severity  of  the  winter. 

The  water  of  Lebanon  taken  as  a  drink, 
will  be  found  serviceable  in  irritable  dyspep- 
sia and  in  gouty  habits,  and  in  the  thirst 
accompanying  slow  and  hectic  fever.  As  a 
bath  it  may  be  used  under  similar  circum- 
stances, and  also  in  chronic  rheumatism. 
The  delicate  and  the  feeble  whose  powers  of 
reaction  are  slight,  would,  by  bathing  in  the 
Lebanon  waters  for  a  time,  be  prepared  for 
the  greater  depression  and  shock  from  sea- 
bathing. 

I  must  not  close  this  notice  of  the  mineral 
springs  of  New  York,  without  adverting  to 
the  numerous,  and,  in  a  measure,  celebrated 


1 

140      MINERAL  AXD  THERMAL  SPRINGS. 

brine  or  salt  springs  of  that  State.  The  chief 
ones  are  those  of  Onondaga  County,  and  of 
Montezuma,  in  Cayuga  County. 

Great  uniformity  prevails  in  the  chemical 
composition  of  the  waters  of  these  different 
springs.  All  those,  continues  Dr.  Beck, 
"  which  have  been  subjected  to  an  analysis 
contain,  although  in  somewhat  various  pro- 
portions, the  chlorides  of  calcium  and  mag- 
nesium, in  combination  with  the  common 
salt.  All  of  them,  moreover,  when  freshly 
drawn,  give  the  characteristic  tests  of  iron, 
which  exists  in  minute  proportions  in  the 
form  of  carbonate ;  or,  perhaps,  in  some  cases, 
the  oxide  of  iron  may  perform  the  part  of  an 
acid,  which,  by  combining  with  lime,  may 
thus  exist  in  the  form  of  ferrate  of  lime. 
Bromine  is  also  known  to  be  one  of  the  con- 
stituents of  the  Salina  brine,  and  it  will  pro- 
bably be  found  in  most  of  the  others ;  but 
iodine  has  not  yet  been  detected  in  any  of 
them." 

An  important  part  of  the  revenue  of  the 
State  is  derived  from  the  springs  of  Onondaga 
County,  viz:  the  Salina  and  the  Syracuse 
^Yells^  and  the  Liverpool  Well. 


CARBURETTED  HYDROGEN  SPRINGS.    141 

Nitrogen  springs  are  found  at  ITosick, 
Eensselaer  County ;  at  Canoga,  in  Seneca, 
and  at  Chateauguay,  in  Franklin. 

Among  the  curiosities  of  springs  in  New 
York,  we  may  mention  those  in  which  car- 
huretted  hydrogen  gas  is  given  out.  In  some 
places,  as  at  the  village  of  Fredonia,  in  Chau- 
tauque  County,  it  is  turned  to  economic  ac- 
count by  being  used  for  lighting  the  streets 
and  houses.  A  sufScient  supply  of  gas  was 
collected  at  this  place,  in  a  gasometer,  to  feed 
seventy  to  eighty  lights.  Similar  emana- 
tions occur  in  Albany,  Oneida,  Yates,  Mon- 
roe, and  Niagara  counties. 


142      MINERAL  AND  THERMAL  SPRINGS. 


CIIAPTEE  IX. 

Springs  of  Maine:  Saline  ones  of  Lubec — Chalybeate 
ones  oi  Dexter.  Springs  of  Vermont:  Iligligate  — 
Newberry  —  Alburgli  —  Bennington  —  Clarendon.  — 
Springs  of  Massachusetts:  Berkshire  —  Ilopkinton. — 
Springs  of  New  Jersey:  Schooley's  Mountain — Its 
situation — Composition  and  virtues  of  the  waters. 


In  the  State  of  Maine,  tlie  chief  mineral 
springs  are: — 

The  Saline  Spring  of  Luhec.  It  bursts  out 
from  the  soil  near  the  junction  of  the  red 
sandstone  and  blue  limestone  rocks,  on  the 
bank  of  a  creek  near  the  head  of  Lubec  Bay. 
The  water  is  clear  and  colorless.  Specific 
gravity  1.025.  An  imperial  gallon  evapo- 
rated to  dryness  gave,  as  a  residuum,  322.5 
grains  of  saline  matter.  100  grains  of  this 
dry  salt  gave,  on  analysis,  in  a  pint  of 
water : — 


SPKINGS  OF  VERMONT. 


143 


Grains. 

Grains. 

Cliloride  of  sodium  . 

.     64.0 

199.000 

Sulphate  of  lime 

.       3.6 

11.210  ' 

Chloride  of  magnesium    . 

.     20.2 

62.845 

Sulphate  of  soda 

.       9.0 

27.985 

Carbonate  of  iron     .        , 

0.8 

2.490 

Carbonate  of  lime    . 

2.0 

0.250 

Chloride  of  calcium          .         a  trace 

12.720  loss. 

Carbonic  acid  gas 

99.6 

322.500 

4  loss 

. 

100.0 

Dr.  Charles  T.  Jackson,  who  gave  these 
particulars  respecting  the  Lubec  Saline 
Spring,  in  his  First  Beport  on  the  Geology  of 
Maine,  does  not  add  anything  on  the  subject 
of  its  curative  powers. 

^  Dexter  C  Jyheate  ^V/jrwi^;,— This  spring  is 
situated  on  the  eastern  head  branch  of  the 
Sebasticook  stream.  It  deposits  largely  "an 
ochreous  yellow  oxide  of  iron."  Dr.  Jackson 
describes  the  water  as  a  good  tonic  in  vari- 
ous  disorders  of  the  digestive  system. 

SULPHUREOUS  SPRINGS  OF  VERMONT. 

Among  these  we  may  enumerate  the 
Hifjhrjate  Simnrjs,  within  twelve  miles  of  the 
steamboat  landing  at  St.  Alban's  Bay ;  also 


il' 


144  MINERAL  AND  THERMAL  SPRI^-GS. 


tlie  Keidmrrj  Sidj^hureous  Spring^  which  is 
twenty-seven  miles  east  of  Montpelier,  and 
forty-seven  northeast  of  Windsor.  It  is  by 
the  side  of  Ilarriman's  Brook,  about  fifty 
rods  north  of  the  meeting-house,  and  it  is  a 
place  of  considerable  resort  for  invalids.  The 
water  is  slrongly  impregnated  with  sulphu- 
retted hydrogen  gas.  It  is  extolled  in  scro- 
fulous and  cutaneous  diseases.  A  good 
shower -house  and  baths  are  constructed  near 
the  spring,  and  every  accommodation  is  pro- 
vided at  the  hotel,  which  can  be  desired  by 
the  visitor.  Springs  of  the  same  kind  are 
found  in  several  other  places  in  the  township. 

The  springs  of  Alhurgh  are  of  the  same 
nature  as  those  just  described. 

Bennington  Thermal  Spring. — It  is  thus 
designated  by  Professor  Hitchcock,  who  does 
not,  however,  give  its  temperature.  It  emits 
both  nitrogen  and  oxygen  gases.  The  water 
is  abundant  enough  to  turn  the  machinery 
of  a  powder  mill. 

Clarendon  Gaseous  Sjmngs. — This  water  will 
rank  with  others  of  the  milder  acidulous  class. 
In  the  small  proportion  of  saline  ingredients, 
but  one  in  ten  thousand  parts  of  the  water,  it 


CLARENDON  SPRINGS. 


145 


is  among  the  purest  known.  Its  gaseous 
contents  are  more  copious,  and  impart  to  it 
whatever  peculiarity  it  possesses.  In  a  no- 
tice of  this  spring,  written  by  Dr.  Gallup,  we 
learn,  from  an  analysis  by  Dr.  Hayes,  that  a 
United  States  gallon  of  235  cubic  inches  con- 
tained— 


Nitrogen  or  azote 

Carbonic  acid 

Besides  atmospheric- air. 


Cubic  Inches. 
.       9.63 
.     4G.1G 


Of  the  saline  matter,  5.76  grains,  carbo- 
nate of  lime  figures  for  8.02,  and  muriate  of 
lime,  sulphate  of  lime,  and  sulphate  of  mag- 
nesia, 2.74  grains. 

The  gas  evolved  from  the  water  at  the  re- 
servoir was,  in  100  cubic  inches,  as  fol- 
lows : — 


Carbonic  acid  gas 
Oxygen  gas 
Nitrogen  gas 


0.59 
1.05 

98.45 

100.00 


Temperature  of  the  higher  spring  48°  F. 
of  the  two  lower  springs  54°  F. 

The  Clarendon  waters  enjoy  a  reputation 
in    cutaneous  diseases,   chronic   bronchitis. 


i 


?'     ■a. 


■$ 

* 

1 

i 

i 

146      MINERAL  AND  THERMAL  SPRINGS. 

anasarca,  and  especially  in  irritable  bladder. 
The  quantity  drank  in  the  twenty-four  hours 
varies  from  five  to  twenty  half  pint  tumblers- 
ful.  They  at  first  excite  a  warmth  and  ach- 
in"-  on  the  surface,  sometimes  attended  with 
slight  nausea.  These  sensations  disappear 
when  their  diuretic  action  begins.  This 
occurs  in  about  six  hours  after  drinking 
them. 

• 

Of  the  mineral  springs  of  Massachusetts, 
I  have  no  details  excepting  on  the  Ilopkin- 
son  Springs,  and  the  so  called 

Berkshire  Soda  Spring. — This,  as  far  as  a 
qualitative  analysis  goes,  may  be  classed 
among  the  acidulous  waters.  For  a  mention 
of  the  substances  thus  detected,  and  some 
other  particulars  respecting  this  spring,  the 
reader  is  referred  to  the  following  extract  of 
a  letter  from  Dr.  Clarkson  T.  Collins  to  Dr. 
Valentine  Mott,  dated  May  17th,  1852  :— 

"  I  must  not  close  this  letter  without  men- 
tioning a  very  remarkable  mineral  spring 
situated  among  the  mountains,  a  short  dis- 
tance from  this  village;  and  which  has,  for 
many  years  past,  had  a  high  local  reputation 
for  the  cure  of  scrofula  and  eruptive  dis- 


BERKSHIRE  SODA  SPRIXG. 


1^7 


eases  of  the  skin.  The  people  in  this  part 
of  the  country  consider  it  a  specific  for  the 
cure  of  all  that  class  of  eruptive  diseases 
which  are  popularly  called  by  the  vague  and 
indefinite  term  of  salt  rheum, 

"  During  the  past  year,  by  way  of  experi- 
ment, I  have  placed  several  obstinate  cases 
of  Eczema,  Ecthyma,  Acne,  Porrigo,  etc., 
under  the  exclusive  treatment  of  this  water, 
and  the  results  have  been  very  satisfactory  ; 
indeed,  I  may  say  that,  in  some  cases,  its 
effect  was  most  extraordinary.  So  pleased 
was  I  with  the  use  of  this  mineral  water,  that 
I  sent  a  jug  of  it  to  New  York  City,  and  had 
it  analyzed  by  Professor  Doremus  and  Dr. 
Blake,  the  former  assistant  of  Professor  Silli- 
man.  It  was  found  to  contain  soda,  chlorine, 
carbonic  acid,  and  a  trace  of  alumina.  Yet 
there  is  but  little  taste  in  it  other  than  that 
of  pure  water.  When  bathed  in,  it  imparts 
to  the  skin  the  most  delightful  softness  of 
any  that  I  have  ever  used,  causing  even  a 
rough  skin  to  feel  smooth." 

"  The  spring  is  located  among  the  moun- 
tains, within  three  miles  of  the  beautiful  vil- 
lage of  Great  Barrington,  Berkshire  County, 
Mass.,  through  which  four  daily  trains  of  cars 


148      MINERAL  AND  THERMAL  SPRINGS. 


pass.  Great  Barrington  is  twenty-eiglit  miles 
east  of  tbc  Hudson  Eiver,  and  cit^^  of  Hud- 
son ;  ten  miles  from  Ilillsdale,  on  tlie  Ilar- 
laem  Eailroad;  twenty  miles  from  Pittsfield; 
twenty  miles  from  Lebanon;  eighty  miles  from 
Bridgeport,  and  forty-eight  miles  from  Al- 
bany, N.  y.,  on  the  line  of  the  Housatonic 
Eailroad,  between  the  two  last  named  places ; 
rendering  it  very  accessible.  During  the 
warm  season,  a  carriage  will  be  run  regularly 
four  times  a  day  between  the  village  and  the 
spring.  Warm,  cold,  and  shower  baths  are 
obtained  by  the  visitors." 

It  will  be  seen  by  the  following  extract  of 
a  letter  from  Dr.  Collins  to  the  writer,  that 
the  atmosphere  of  the  vicinity  of  the  springs 
is  not  only  healing  to  the  lungs,  but  exhila- 
rating to  the  brain : — 

"  Wm.  C.  Bryant  once  practised  law  in  this 
village.  Dr.  Ilolmes  (professor),  of  Boston, 
resides  in  this  county  during  the  summer. 
G.  P.  E.  James,  the  English  novelist,  owns  a 
farm,  and  is  building  a  house  in  this  town, 
four  miles  from  the  village.  Miss  Catharine 
Sedgwick  resides  eight  miles  from  here,  and 
Melville  twenty." 

Ho;pkinion  JSjmngs. —  These  waters   have 


SCHOOLEY'S  MOUNTAIN  SPRING.        149 

obtained  some  reputation  in  their  section  of 
country  (as  I  learned,  many  years  ago,  from 
Dr.  Bucklin)  for  tlie  cure  of  scrofula  and 
various  affections  of  the  skin.  An  analysis 
of  the  water  of  the  chief  spring,  by  Dr.  Gor- 
ham,  showed  its  constituents  to  be  carbon- 
ates of  lime,  magnesia,  and  iron.  Another 
one  is  highly  impregnated  with  sulphur. 
Bathing  in  the  waters  is  also  recommended 
and  practised. 


The  chief  watering  place  in  New  Jersey, 


ii!    :>jj 


IS- 


v' 


THE   SCHOOLEY'S   MOUNTAIN  SPRING. 

This  spring,  or  rather  rill,  issues  from  a 
perpendicular  rock,  having  an  eastern  expo- 
sure, between  forty  and  fifty  feet  above  the 
level  of  a  brook  which  flows  down  into  the 
channel  beneath.  A  small  wooden  trough  is 
or  was  adapted  to  the  fissure,  so  as  to  convey 
the  water  to  a  platform  where  the  visitors 
assemble  and  to  the  baths.  The  tempera- 
ture of  the  water  is  50°  F.,  being  6°  higher 
than  the  spring  water  nearer  the  summit. 
The  quantity  given  out  in  an  hour  is  thirty 


13 


* 


1 


MINERAL  AND  TnER:\[AL  SPRINGS. 

gallons,  and  it  docs  noi  vary  -with  season  or 
weather.  The  water  deposits  oxide  of  iron 
on  the  troughs,  baths,  and  even  the  d.Inkino- 
vessels.  Its  taste  is  strongly  chalybeate. 
Iron  ore  abounds  in  the  vicinity,  and  is 
worked  to  advantage  in  furnaces  on  both  the 
eastern  and  western  sides  of  the  chain.  Gray 
limestone  is  found  at  the  base  of  the  hills  and 
along  the  valleys. 

The  predominant  ingredients  are  muriate 
and  sulphate  of  lime  and  carbonated  oxide  of 
iron,  as  we  learn  from  an  analysis  by  Dr. 
McNeven.  On  exposure  to  the  air  the  iron 
is  precipitated,  and  the  water  has  then  such 
slight  sensibh^  properties  that  it  maybe  used 
for  making  tea.  It  will  not  bear  transporta- 
tion, even  in  corked  bottles,  without  this  pre- 
cipitation taking  place. 

As  a  pure  carbonated  chalybeate,  the  water 
of  Schooley's  Mountain  Spring  is  well  adapted 
to  a  variety  of  chronic  maladies  marked 
chiefly  by  anemia,  debility,  and  mucous  dis- 
charges, in  which  there  is  no  inflammation 
of  an  organ  present.  Its  tendency  to  induce 
constipation  must  be  watched,  and  this  effect 
corrected  by  the  use  of  mild  aperients. 

Schooley's  Mountain,  near  the  summit  of 


SCIIOOLEY'S  MOUNTAIN  SPRING.       151 

wLich  is  the  spring,  is  supposed  to  be  about 
1,100  feet  above  the  Icv  I  of  the  sea.  It 
forms  part  of  the  central  granitic  chain  which 
extends  in  a  northeast  and  southwest  direc- 
tion  across  the  Stnte  of  New  Jersey,  from  the 
Delaware  to  the  Hudson  Eiver.  ]7roni  the 
top  of  the  mountain  a  turnpike  road  runs 
northward  to  Sussex,  another  westward  to 
Easton,  a  third  eastward  to  'Now  York,  and 
a  fourth  southward  towards  Trenton. 

It  is  situated   in  Washai-ton  Township, 
Morris    County,   nineteen   miles    northwest 
of  Morristown,  fifty  from  New  York,  seventy 
northeast   from   Philadelphia,   and   fifty-six 
from  Trenton.     From  New  York,  the  visitor 
to  the  springs  will  go  to  Morristown  by  rail- 
road and  thence  by  stage,  or  to  the  Whi:;e 
House  by  railroad  and  thence  by  stage.    The 
springs  are  reached  from  Philadelphia  by 
way  of  New  Brunswick,  and  thence  by  stage 
six  miles  to  Bound  Brook,  on  the  New  Jersey 
Central  Eailroad.     By  this  last  he  rea^aes 
the  White  House,  and,  again  by  stage,  the 
springs. 

In  addition  to  the  houses  for  the  accom- 
modation of  visitors  there  are  others  differ- 


i 


:%  if 


152    :mineral  and  thermal  springs. 


ently  occupied,  and   a  churcli   and  scliool- 
house,  together  with  a  post-office. 

Among  the  amusements  are  fishing  and 
boating  on  Budd's  Pond,  a  beautiful  sheet  of 
water  two  miles  in  length  by  one  in  breadth, 
seven  miles  distant  from  the  spring.  The 
student  and  lover  of  geology  may  also  find 
abundant  materials  to  engage  his  attention 
and  help  him  to  wile  away  many  an  hour. — 
{Gordon's  Gazetteer  of  New  Jersey) 


ili,^;. 


CHAPTER  X.-- 

Pennsylvania  Springs. — In  noticing  the 
mineral  springs  of  this  State,  I  begin  with 

The  Bedford  Springs, — These  rank  fore- 
most in  Pennsylvania  on  account  of  their 
mineral  properties  and  medicinal  effects,  and 
their  mountain  elevation  and  scenery.  They 
are  two  miles  from  the  town  from  which  they 
derive  their  name,  and  less  than  two  hundred 
miles  from  Philadelphia,  and  not  one  hundred 
from  Pittsburg,  on  the  great  turnpike  between 

*  The  contents  of  this  chapter  may  be  found  in  the 
first  part  of  the  volume. 


BEDFORD  SrRINGS. 


153 


these  two  cities;  they  are  one  hundred  miles 
from  Ilarrisburg,  one  hundred  and  thirt}^ 
from  Baltimore,  and  the  same  distance  from 
Washington.  The  water  ot  the  chief  spring 
(Anderson's)  is  a  saline  chalybeate.  Others 
have  received  the  designations  of  Fletcher's, 
or  the  U2^2^er  Sjmng,  Limestone,  Sweet,  Sul- 
phur, and  Cliahjheate.  The  most  active  in- 
gredients in  the  first  or  main  spring  are 
sulphate  of  magnesia  and  carbonate  of  iron. 
The  temperature  of  the  water  is  55°  F.,  which 
must  be  somewhat  higher  than  the  com.mon 
springs  of  this  region. 

The  Bedford  aters  have  acquired  de- 
served celebrity  a\  indigestion  and  chronic 
diarrhoea  and  dysentery,  and  in  renal  dis- 
eases, in  which  the  inflammation  or  inflam- 
matory excitement  has  subsided,  and  there 
reraams  an  atonic  and  enfeebled  condition 
of  the  organs.  In  r  lerine  and  in  cutaneous 
diseases  which  have  reached  this  stage  and 
assumed  a  chronic  character,  they  are,  also, 
of  decided  benefit.  The  gouty  and  rheuma- 
tic, in  whom  there  is  no  plethora  or  cerebral 
determination,  have  also  reason  to  speak  well 
of  these  waters.        ** 


I 


i 


154      MINEEAL  AND  THERilAL  SPRINGS. 

These  prominent  features  of  the  Bedford 
Springs  being  premised,  it  may  not  be  amiss 
to  add  a  few  particulars  of  their  history  and 
locality,  and  of  their  therapeutical  value  in 
some  diseases  not  mentioned  in  the  preced- 
ing paragraph. 

The  discovery  of  the  remedial  virtues  of 
the  Bedford  waters  only  dates  about  half  a 
century  back.  "In  the  year  1804  a  mecha- 
nic of  Bedford,  when  fishing  for  trout  in  the 
stream  near  the  principal  fountain,  was  at- 
tracted by  the  beauty  and  singularity  of  the 
waters  flowing  from  the  bank,  and  drank 
freely  of  them.  They  proved  purgative  and 
sudorific.  He  had  suffered  many  years  from 
rheumatic  pains  and  formi^"^  ible  ulcers  on  the 
legs.  On  the  ensuing  night  he  was  more  free 
from  pain,  and  slept  more  tranquilly  than 
usual;  and  this  unexpected  relief  induced 
him  to  drink  daily  of  the  waters,  and  to 
bathe  his  limbs  in  the  fountain.  In  a  few 
weeks  he  was  entirely  cured.  The  happy 
effect  which  they  had  on  this  patient  led 
others,  laboring  under  various  chronic  dis- 
eases, to  the  springs.  In  the  summer  of 
1805,  many  valetudinarians  came  in  carriages, 


SITUATION  OF  THE  SPEIXGS. 


loo 


and  encamped  in  the  valley,  to  seek  from  the 
munificent  hand  of  nature  their  lost  health." 
—  Gordon^  Gazetteer  of  the  State  of  Penn- 
sylvania. 

The  springs,  with  the  exception  of  the 
chalybeate,  are  situated  in  Shover's  Yalley, 
which  lies  between  Constitution  Hill,  on  the 
east,  and  Federal  Hill  on  the  west.  The  val- 
ley is  watered  by  Shover's  Creek,  which 
passes  through  it,  and  discharges  itself  into 
the  Eaystown  branch  of  the  Juniata  River 
about  a  mile  east  of  the  town. 

On  the  chief  points  which  may  be  supposed 
to  engage  the  attention  of  invalids  visiting 
the  Bedford  Springs,  Dr.  Church*  writes  so 
pleasantly  and  so  well  that  I  shall  use  his 
language  on  the  occasion  rather  than  attempt 
a  condensed  description,  which  would  not 
probably  be  so  clear  or  satisfactory.  The 
eulogy  of  the  curative  powers  of  the  waters 
is  strong,  but  judging  from  my  own  expe- 
rience of  their  efficacy,  in  a  variety  of  cases 
in  which  I  have  prescribed  them  in  Philadel- 
phia, it  can  hardly  be  deemed  overwrought. 

*  An  Analysis  of  the  Waters  of  the  Bedford  Mineral 
Springs. 


:jal 


IH 

i 

.  \ 
; 

1 

s1m.i1 

1 

156      MINERAL  AXD  THERMAL  SPRINGS. 

The  use  of  these  waters  is  contraindicated 
in  plethoric  habits,  with  determination  of 
blood  to  the  head,  or  with  abdominal  con- 
gestion and  a  predisposition  to  active  he- 
morrhages, or  during  a  paroxysmal  state 
of  gout,  even  though  it  be  the  wandering 
kind,  and,  also,  in  subacute  rheumatism. 
In  early  life,  when  a  student  of  medicine, 
I  used  to  listen  to  the  personal  experience 
of  the  effects  of  the  Bedford  water  on  a 
highly  intelligent  and  observing  gentleman, 
brother  of  the  late  Professor  Benjamin  Smith 
Barton.  He  said  that  on  one  occasion  he 
visited  the  springs,  and  began  to  use  the 
water  when  he  was  still  excited  and  some- 
what feverish  by  his  journey,  a  condition  of 
which  he  complained  before  he  left  home. 
The  consequence  was  a  sharp  "  bilious  attack," 
of  some  days'  duration.  On  another  occasion, 
for  he  was  a  regular  visitor  to  the  springs, 
while  laboring  under  a  predisposition  to  the 
disease,  he  had  an  attack  of  gout,  owing, 
as  he  believed,  to  his  beginning  to  drink  the 
waters  before  he  was  prepared  by  rest,  regi- 
"men,  and  some  cooling  remedies.  For  the 
most  part  he  returned    home    in    greatly 


Anderson's  spring. 


157 


amended  health,  and  enjoyed  longer  exemp- 
tion from  an  attack  of  gout — a  disease  to 
which  he  was  subject. 

Dr.  Church  will  now  tell  us  about  these 
famed  waters.  - 

^^  Anderson' Sj  or  the  Principal  Spring^  issues 
in  a  very  copious  stream,  from  a  fissure  in  a 
limestone  rock,  on  the  west  side  of  Constitu- 
tion ilill,  about  thirty  feet  above  the  level  of 
Shover's  Creek,  and  is  situated  within  twenty 
yards  of  the  verge  of  the  bank  of  the  creek. 
The  water  is  clear,  lively,  and  sparkling.  At 
ten  A.  M.,  on  the  28th  of  May,  1825,  the 
temperature  of  the  water  in  the  spring  was 
58°  F.,  while  that  of  the  surrounding  atmo- 
sphere was  70°  of  the  same  scale.  Its  spe- 
cific gravity  is  1.029.  It  has  a  peculiar  saline 
taste,  resembling  a  weak  solution  of  Epsom 
salts  in  water,  impregnated  with  carbonic 
acid,  and  exhales  no  perceptible  odor.  On 
exposure  in  an  open  vessel  to  the  air,  it  be- 
comes vapid,  but  does  not  become  turbid,  or 
deposit  a  sediment.  The  water  deposits  car- 
bonate of  iron  on  those  substance  over  which 
it  constantly  flows.  Limestone,  iron  ore, 
14 


158      MINERAL  AND  THERMAL  SPRINGS. 


calcareous  and  silicious  substances,  abound 
about  the  spring." 

Analysis  hy  Dr.  Church.  —  "A  quart  of 
water,  evaporated  to  dryness,  gave  thirty-one 
grains  of  a  residuum.  The  same  quantity  of 
water,  treated  agreeably  to  the  rule  laid  down 
by  Westrumb,  contained  eighteen  and  a  half 
cubic  inches  of  carbonic  acid  gas.  The  re- 
siduum, treated  according  to  the  rules  given 
by  Dr.  Henry,  in  his  system  of  chemistry, 
gave  the  following  result: — 


Sulphate  of  magnesia,  or  Epsom  salts 

Sulphate  of  lime 

Muriate  of  soda 

Muriate  of  lime 

Carbonate  of  iron 

Carbonate  of  lime 

Loss 


Grains. 

20 

^ 

5. 

4 

2 


To  -which  must  be  added  18^  cubic  inches  of  carbouic 
acid  gas. 

"  Fletcher^ s^  or  the  Upper  Spriyig^  issues  from 
a  fissure  in  a  limestone  rock,  on  the  west  side 
of  Constitution  Hill,  about  one  hundred  and 
iirty  yards  south  of  Anderson's  Spring.  It 
is  also  a  copious  spring.    At  ten  A.  M.,  on 


ANALYSIS  OF  THE  WATERS. 


159 


the  2Stli  of  May,  1825,  the  temperature  of 
the  water  in  the  spring  was  55°  F.,  while 
that  of  the  surrounding  atmosphere  was 
70°  of  the  same  scale.  The  foregoing  ex- 
periments, made  on  this  water,  gave  rather 
more  iron  and  common  salt,  less  magnesia, 
and  about  the  same  proportion  of  the  other 
substances.  And  the  general  observations 
made  regarding  Anderson's  Spring,  are  equal- 
ly applicable  to  this  one. 

"  It  gives  me  great  pleasure  to  state  that 
the  foregoing  analysis  of  these  waters,  con- 
firms that  made  a  few  years  ago  by  one  of 
the  first  chemists  of  the  nation."^  They  fur- 
nished, by  this  analysis,  "  1st.  Carbonate  of 
lime,  with  excess  of  acid.  2d.  Sulphate  of 
magnesia,  or  Epsom  salts.  8d.  Sulphate  of 
lime,  small  quantity.  4:th.  Muriate  of  mag- 
nesia.    5th.  Carbonated  oxide  of  iron." 

The  Board  of  Managers  of  the  Springs, 
in  their  circular  letter,  very  justly  observe 
that,  from  the  results  given,  it  is  plain  these 
waters  must  be  laxative  and  tonic ;  and  ex- 
perience has  amply  proved  that  they  pos- 
sess these   effects  in  a  high  degree.     They 


i 


><wl^l. 


*  Dr.  Dc  Butts,  of  Baltimore. 


160      MINEKAL  AND  THERMAL  SPRINGS. 


give  rise  to  full  purgiug,  and  cause  a  dis- 
charge of  bilious  or  other  acrid  matters 
with  as  mucli  activity  as  the  most  powerful 
purgatives.  They  also  excite  the  action  of 
the  kidneys  and  skin,  causing  a  very  free 
secretion  of  urine  and  perspiration. 

It  is  further  stated  that  the  Bedford  wa- 
ters, drank  with  proper  precaution  respecting 
quantity,  temperature,  diet,  and  exercise,  and 
accompanied  by  the  judicious  use  of  the 
baths,  are  found  to  be  salutary  in  a  wide 
range  of  chronic  diseases.  In  hepatic  affec- 
tions, in  diseases  of  the  stomacli  and  intes- 
tines, in  dyspeptic  and  hypochondriacal  de- 
rangements, in  hemorrhoids,  and  in  all  the 
varieties  of  intestinal  worms,  the  water  has 
effected  numerous  cures.  In  secondary  dis- 
eases of  the  lungs,  originating  in  the  sym- 
pathies of  those  organs  with  the  stomach  and 
liver,  the  relief  has  been  equally  certain. 
In  the  diseases  of  the  skin  and  of  the  kid- 
neys, and  especially  in  calculous  and  gravelly 
affections,  they  have  been  very  eificacious. 
In  rheumatism  of  weak  excitement,  in  ana- 
sarca and  various  uterine  diseases,  such  as 
obstructions  of  the   menstrual  flux,  or   its 


REMEDIAL  EFFECTS. 


161 


excess,  fluor  albus,  painful  menstruation,  &c., 
many  cures  have  been  effected,  and,  failing  in 
this,  they  have  still  been  generally  beneficial. 
In  diabetes,  and  in  certain  forms  of  gout, 
they  have  been  used  with  great  profit.  In 
the  debility  following  the  cure  of  acute  dis- 
eases, and  in  the  weakness  consequent  on  the 
mercurial  treatment  of  syphilis,  the  Bedford 
waters  have  been  found  to  be  good  restora- 
tives. In  all  those  chronic  affections,  which 
are  too  often  the  consequence  of  acute  dis- 
eases in  southern  climates,  and  especially  in 
those  called  bilious,  the  waters,  together  with 
the  bracing  vigor  of  a  mountain  air,  effect 
most  happy  changes. 

"  The  solvents  of  the  greater  part  of  the 
substances  held  in  solution  by  this  water, 
being  fixed  ones,  render  it  peculiarly  fit  for 
transportation,  and  it  is  carried  away,  almost 
daily,  at  a  great  expense,  to  the  cities  and 
neighboring  states,  where  it  produces  its  very 
beneficial  effects." 

The  Limestone^  or  Lower  Spring^  is  a  very 
bold  spring  of  pure  limestone  water,  which 
issues  from  two  or  three  fissures  in  a  lime- 
stone rock,  on  the  west  side  of  Constituti( 


ion 


14^ 


162      MINERAL  AND  THERMAL  SPRINGS. 


Hill,  about  two  Imudred  yards  lower  on  the 
creek  than  Anderson's  Spring,  and  about 
forty  feet  below  the  level  of  that  spring.  It 
issues  in  sufficient  quant 'ties  to  turn  an  over- 
shot mill.  On  the  28th  of  May,  1825,  the  tem- 
perature of  the  water  in  the  spring  was  51°F., 
and  that  of  the  surrounding  atmosphere  was 
70°  of  the  same  scale. 

"  The  Sulphur  Spring  rises  on  the  west 
side  of  Shover's  Creek,  about  two  hundred 
yards  distant  from  Anderson's  Spring.  It  is 
a  weaker  spring  than  the  others,  and  the 
water  is  covered  with  a  thin  whitish  pellicle. 
The  water  exhales  a  very  strong  odor  of 
sulphuretted  hydrogen  gas.  Its  temperature 
was  56°  F.,  while  that  of  the  atmosphere  was 
71°.  It  has  a  peculiarly  unpleasant  hepatic 
taste,  which  I  cannot  well  define.  Chemical 
experiments,  conducted  in  the  same  manner 
as  those  before  detailed,  prove  that  it  holds 
in  solution  carbonic  acid,  sulphuretted  hy- 
drogen gas,  small  quantities  of  lime,  magne- 
sia, and  common  salt,  and  that  it  contains  no 
iron. 

"  The  Sweet  Springs  are  two  in  number, 
and  issue  from  fissures  in  slate  rocks,  about 


CHALYBEATE  SPRING. 


163 


fifty  yards  apart,  on  tbe  cast  side  of  Federal 
Hill,  about  one  hundred  and  fifty  yards  dis- 
tant  from  Anderson's  Spring,  from  which  they 
are  separated  by  Shover's  Creek.     They  are 
copious  springs  of  remarkably  pure  water, 
which  is  very  clear  and  colorless.     Its  tem- 
perature was,  on  the  28th  of  May,  52°  F. 
Infusions  of  litmus  and  turmeric,  barytes, 
nitrate  of  silver,  carbonate  of  ammonia,  and 
phosphate  of  soda,  added  after  each  other, 
muriate  of  lime  and  tincture  of  galls,  effected 
no  changes  on  this  water.     Lime-water  ren- 
dered it   slightly  turbid.     It   is  the  purest 
water  I  ever  saw,  and  all  that  is  necessary  to 
render  it  as  pure  as  distilled  water,  is  to  ex- 
pel the  carbonic  acid  by  boiling,  after  which 
it  can  be  kept  in  well-stopped  bottles,  and  used 
for  the  same  purpose  as  distilled  water.    The 
water  of  these  springs  is  used  for  cooking, 
washing,  &c.,  by  the  residents  at  Bedford 
Springs;  and  the  visitors  decidedly  prefer  it 
for  drinking  water ;  and,  on  account  of  its 
purity,  they  very  appropriately  called  these 
springs  the  Sweet  Springs. 

""The  Chalyheate  Spring  rises  in  a  meadow, 


about  one  and  a  half  mil 


es  northeast  of  Bed- 


I' 


■  .; 


164      MINERAL  AND  THERMAL  SPRINGS. 

ford,  and  about  three  miles  from  Anderson's 
Spring.  It  is  not  a  copious  spring.  The 
water  exhales  the  peculiar  odor  of  sulphu- 
retted hydrogen  gas,  and  is  covered  with  a 
thin  whitish  peMicle.  When  first  taken  from 
the  spring  it  ^'s  clear  and  limpid,  but  on  ex- 
posure in  an  open  vessel  to  the  action  of  the 
air,  it  becomes  turbid.  Its  taste  is  ferrugi- 
nous and  slightly  hepatic.  Experiments 
conducted  as  those  heretofore  detailed,  prove 
that  it  contains  carbo  .ic  acid,  sulphuretted 
hydrogen,  carbonate  of  iron,  with  muriate  of 
soda,  and  a  minute  portion  of  magnesia. 
The  spring  is  surrounded  by  a  species  of  iron 
ore,  called  bog  ore.  A  singular  fact  connect- 
ed with  the  history  of  this  spring  is,  that 
part  of  a  skeleton  of  a  mammoth  was  found 
when  cleaning  it  out.'' 

There  are  ample  accommodations  for  visit- 
ors, both  at  the  springs  and  in  the  town  of 
Bedford. 

"  Houses  for  the  cr  t,  shower,  and  warm 
baths  are  erected,  in  which  there  is  every  ac- 
commodation for  taking  the  baths,  and  an 
attentive  and    obliging    oath-keeper    takes 


PLEASANT  WALKS. 


165 


that  supplies  the  Tvarm  bath  is  conveyed  from 
the  Upper  Spring,  through  a  iannel,  which 
passes  under  the  channel  of  Shover's  Creek. 
Th^.  3ame  tunnel  supplies  a  trough  for  water- 
ing horses,  and  I  was  credibly  informed  that 
the  use  of  the  water  cured  the  botts,  the 
hide-bound,  and  other  diseases  of  horses,  and 
that  that  noble  and  valuable  animal  becomes 
remarkably  fond  of  the  water  after  drinking 
it  a  short  time. 

''  To  describe  the  sei^entine  and  beautiful 
walks  up  Constitution  Hill;  the  artificial  lake 
of  fresh  water,  on  which  small  beats  can 
plsasantly  sail ;  the  small  artificial  island  in 
the  lake,  on  which  the  managers  intend  to 
plant  choice  shrubbery,  and  the  other  im- 
provements, would  extend  this  lengthened 
paper  so  as  to  tire  the  reader.  I  shall,  there- 
fore, pass  them  without  further  notice,  and 
conclude  by  observing,  that,  although  I  can- 
not  say  with  Dr.  Goldsmith,  in  his  'Deserted 
Village,' 

'  Here  smiling  Spring  its  earliest  visit  pays, 
And  parting  Summer's  lingering  bloom  delays;' 

yet  I  can  with  great  justice  say,  here  nature 
has  formed  the  scenery  truly  picturesque  and 


m 


TWT 


1G6      MINERAL  AND  THERMAL  SPRINGS. 

romantic,  and  art  has  harmoniously  combined 
"vvitli  her  in  rendering  it  stili  more  beautiful. 
Here,  also,  'the  cbemist,  the  geologist,  the 
mineralogist,  the  botanist,  the  landscape 
painter,  and  the  general  lover  of  nature,  will 
find  much  to  employ,  amuse,  delight,  and 
reward  attention,  or  beguile  the  tedium  of 
valetudinary  habits  and  distresses;'"^  and  that 
the  facilities  for  travelling  to  and  from  the 
cities,  by  turnpike  roads,  &c.,  good  accommo- 
dations, scenery,  clinsate,  the  efficacy  of  the 
waters,  &c.,  all  combine  to  render  Bedford 
one  of  the  principal  watering  places  in  the 
United  States." 

Dr.  Caspar  Morris  speaks  in  high  terms  of 
the  good  effects  of  the  Bedford  water  on  him- 
self, both  at  the  springs  and  at  home.  lie 
says : — 

"  The  sensible  action  of  the  water  of  the 
'  Mineral  Spring,'  at  Bedford,  is  on  the  kid- 
neys, producing  very  prompt  and  profuse 
diuresis ;  on  the  skin,  giving  rise  to  very 
free  perspiration ;  and  on  the  bowels,  causing 
gentle  catharsis.  It  will  thus  be  evident  that 
all  the  emunctories  are  stimulated  to  increased 


*  Philad.  Journal. 


DIRECTIONS  FOR  USIXG  THE  WATER.      l^J 

activity;  the  discharges  are  copious,  and  yet 
not  only  is  no  debility  induced,  but  there  is 
an  actual  increase  of  yHz  .  force,  in  proportion 
to  this  activity.    I  have  myself  twice  gone 
to  Bedford,  so  prostrated  as  scarcely  to  en- 
dure the  fatigue  of  the  journey,  and  wholly 
disqualified  for  all  exertion,  and  have  in  both 
instances  returned,  at  the  end  of  a  fortnight 
or  three  weeks,  restored  to  my  wonted  power 
of  labor;  and  have  witnessed  similar  results 
in  the  cases  of  friends  and  patients.    This 
increase  of  energy  cannot  be  justly  attributed 
to  the  mere  catharsis  and  diuresis,*^  disgorging 
the  portal  circulation,  and   thus  promo'ting 
digestion  and  assimilation  ;  though,  undoubt^- 
edly,  much  is  due  to  this  cause."* 

I>r.  M.  recommends  the  invalid  to  rise  early, 
and,  before  dressing,  to  drink  half  a  pint  of 
the  water  in  his  room.  Eepairing  to  the 
spring,  he  will  there  drink  another  tumbler- 
ful of  water,  and  repeat  this  process  until  five 
are  taken  at  intervals  of  at  least  ten  minutes. 
A  brisk  walk  should  be  taken  during  each 
interval.  «  Two  hours  should  be  occupied 
in  the  drinking  and  walking  before  breakfast, 

*  Medical  Examiner,  June,  1852. 


168      MINERAL  AND  THERMAL  SPRINGS. 

during  which  time  the  skin  and  kidneys  will 
pour  forth  an  amount  of  fluid  proportior>ed 
to  the  quantity  which  has  been  swallowed, 
and  these  secretions  should  be  promoted  by 
exercise  adapted  to  the  strength  of  the  in- 
valid. The  quantity  mentioned  will  gene- 
rally occasion  some  three  or  four  watery 
evacuations  from  the  bowels,  of  a  bright  yel- 
low color,  without  pain  or  exhaustion.  Should 
this  not  occur  during  the  two  hours  following 
breakfast,  another  glass  should  be  swallowed 
before  dinner ;  and  in  case  the  bowels  should 
still  resist  the  influence  of  the  water,  a  dose 
of  blue  pill  should  be  taken  at  bedtime,  fol- 
lowed, in  the  morning,  either  by  calcined 
magnesia,  or  the  addition  of  Epsom  salts  to 
the  water.  I  have  never  known  the  water 
to  prove  violently  or  painfully  active,  but  in 
one  person.  In  such  an  event  the  U3c  -  f  it 
should  be  suspended." 

Dr.  Morris's  experience  is  coii>  ^dent  with 
my  own  in  favor  of  the  utility  of  ihe  Bedford 
water  in  sick  headache.  I  have  found  it, 
also,  of  the  greatest  service  in  other  cases  of 
distressing  nausea  with  gastralgic  pains  and 
constipation. 


grs 


•) 


C0MPAK,4TIVE  ANALYSES. 


169 


An  analysis  of  the  water  undertaken  by 
Dr.  Cheston  J.,  son  of  Dr.  Caspar  Morris,  in 
the  laboratory  of  Professor  Booth,  gave  dif- 
ferent proportions  of  the  salts  from  those  de- 
tected  by  Dr.  Church.     Dr.  C.  J.  Morris  found 
in  a  pint  of  the  water  11.274  grs.  of  the  sid- 
phate  of  lime,  and  3.974  giains  of  the  sul- 
phate of  magnesia ;  whereas  Dr.  Church  ex- 
hibits 20  grs.  of  this  last  salt,  and  but  8.705 
of  the  sulphate  of  lime  in  a  quart  of  the 
water.     The  chloride  of  sodium  (muriate  of 
soda),  in  Dr.  Church's  analysis,  is  2.500  grs., 
and  in  that  of  Dr.  Morris  linle  more  than  a 
third  of  a  grain.     Iron  was  believed  by  the 
former  to  exist  in  the  state  of  a  carbonate, 
by  the  latter  in  that  of  a  sulphate,  together 
with  sulphate  of  aluminr   ignored  by  Dr.  C. 
Sulphate  of  soda,  in  the  ^  roportion  of  ,^092 
grs.,  mentioned  by  ^      Morris,  does  not  ap- 
pear in   the  analysis  of  Dr.  Church.     The 
entire  amount  of  soli-I  contents  found  by  the 
latter  gentlemp.n  was  31    grs.,  and   by  the 
former,  preserving  the  same  proportion  of 
water,  they  would  be  44.402  grs.     The  ab- 
sence of  carbonic  acid  in  Dr.  Morris's  analysis 
is  explained  by  the  llict  of  his  havinn-  exa- 
15 


,,> 


li 


'':Ci8(tl 


f 


170      MINEKAL  AXD  THERMAL  SPRINGS. 

mined  the  water  in  Philadelpliia,  at  a  dis- 
tance from  the  spring,  and  hence  an  escape 
of  the  gas. 

Within  a  day's  ride  of  Bedford  are  the 
little  town  of  Bath,  in  Virginia,  and  its  ther- 
mal spring,  of  which  further  mention  will 
soon  be  made. 

Chalybeate  Spring^  near  Pittsburg. — "Within 
four  miles  of  Pittsburg  is  this  spring,  which 
lias  been  described  and  analyzed  by  Dr. 
Meade. 

"  When  the  water  remains  undisturbed  for 
a  few  hours,  it  is  covered  with  a  white  pelli- 
cle ;  its  taste  is  lively  and  rather  pungent, 
with  a  peculiar  ferruginous  flavor,  and  it  ex- 
hales an  odor  of  sulphuretted  hydrogen  gas. 
Its  temperature  is  vjry  generally  uniform, 
and  is  of  54°  F.  The  specific  gravity  of  the 
water  differs  little  from  the  purest  water,  and 
is  as  1,002  to  1,000. 

"  According  to  Dr.  Meade's  analysis,  it  con- 
tains muriate  of  soda,  2  grains ;  muriate  of 
magnesia,  J  grain ;  oxide  of  iron,  1  grain ; 
sulphate  of  lime,  J  grain ;  carbonic  acid  gas 
in  one  quart  of  water,  18  cubic  inches. 

"  Dr.  M.  thinks  this  water  even  superior, 
in  a  medicinal  point  of  view,  to  the  water  of 


gas 


FRANKFORT  MINERAL  SPRING.  171 

the  Schoohy's  Mountain  Spring,  which  has 
long  sustained  a  high  character  for  its  chaly- 
beate  properties." 

Franlcfort  Mineral  jS/mngs.—J)r.  Church, 
many  j^ears  ago,  directed  public  attention  to 
these  springs.  ' 

"  Cave  spring,  which  is  the  most  consider- 
able, and  to  which  there  is  the  greatest  resort, 
is  very  romantically  situated  within  a  large 
cave,  on  the  farm  of  Mr.  John  Stevens,  in 
Hanover  Township,  Beaver  County,  Penn- 
sylvania, about  twenty-six  miles  southwest 
.of  Pittsburg,  and  about  one  mile  and  a  half 
northeast  of  the  village  of  Frankfort.  The 
cave  is  a  great  natural  curiosity.  It  is  exca- 
vated by  nature  out  of  a  large  hill,  and  is 
about  sixty  feet  below  the  surface  of  the  earth. 
It  is  overhung,  and  in  some  places  arched  over 
with  large  flat  rocks,  which  are  covered  with 
calcareous  incrustations,  strongly  impregnated 
with  the  sulphate  of  iron  and  alum.* 

"  The  water  of  Cave  Spring  would  seem, 
from  the  analysis  of  Dr.  Church,  to  contain 
the  following  substances:  Carbonic  acid,  car- 
bonate of  iron,  carbonate  of  magnesia,  sul- 

*  rbiladelphia  Medical  and  Physical  Journal. 


\: 


i.i 


t 


if 


It 


172      MINERAL  AND  TIIEintAL  SPRINGS. 


pliuretted  hydrogen  gas,  muriate  of  soda,  and 
a  minute  portion  of  bitumen. 

"Leiper  Spring,  within  a  quarter  of  a  mile 
of  Frankfort,  holds  in  solution  rather  more 
carbonate  of  iron  and  muriate  of  soda,  less 
carbonate  of  magnesia,  the  same  proportion 
of  sulphuretted  hydrogen  gas,  carbonic  acid, 
and  bitumen,  than  Cave  Spring." 

Dr.  Church,  in  reference  to  the  medicinal 
employment  of  the  Frankfort  water,  tells  us, 
that  when  first  drunk  it  sometimes  excites 
nausea  and  vomiting.  For  the  most  part, 
however,  the  water  sits  well  on  the  stomach. 
Some  individuals,  not  very  wisely,  have  drunk 
two  or  three  quarts  in  the  course  of  an  hour, 
without  its  causing  any  sensation  of  weight 
or  coldness  at  the  stomach.  It  generally 
operates  two  or  three  times  on  the  bowels, 
and  very  copiously  by  the  kidneys.  In  some 
persons  it  produces  vertigo  and  slight  intoxi- 
cation. This  water,  to  use  the  language  of 
Dr.  Church,  "regulates  the  bowels, strengthens 
the  stomach,  improves  the  appetite  astonish- 
ingly, clears  the  skin,  promotes  diaphoresis 
and  great  freedom  of  urination." 

"  Drinking  the  water,  with  the  use  of  the 


'T'-r— 


YORK  SPRINGS. 


i  i  O 


cold  shower-bath,  has  been  of  great  service 
to  persons  laboring  under  chronic  rheuma- 
tism, grave],  dyspepsia,  asthma  caused  by 
gastric  irritation,  general  debility  of  the  sys- 
tem, and  to  convalescents  from  bilious  fever 
and  liver  complaints.  The  nse  of  the  water 
alone  has  cured  several  cases  of  cutaneous 
affections,  such  as  herpes,  psora,  &c."  Dr. 
C.  mentions  his  own  personal  experience  of 
entire  cure  of  bad  hemorrhoids,  with  which 
he  had  been  affected  for  years,  after  drinkin^r 
the  water  during  five  or  six  days.  Other 
persons  had  reported  to  him  similar  cases  of 
entire  relief. 

York  jSjmngs.—TliGj  were  formerly  much 
visited,  especially  by  citizens  of  Baltimore. 
One  of  them  is  saline;  and  consists  of  1.20 
grains  of  sulphate  of  magnesia,  6  grains  of 
sulphate  of  lime,  and  4  of  muriate  of  soda  in 
a  pint  of  water.  The  other  is  a  strong  chaly- 
beate. The  water  of  the  first  is  said  to  be 
diuretic  and  mildly  cathartic.  The  chaly- 
beate will,  of  course,  produce  the  same  effects 
as  others  of  its  class.  This  place  is  readily 
reached  by  railroad  from  Philadelpliia  and 
Baltimore.     It  is  in  Adams  County,  "  two  to 


I  'it. 


ITi      MINERAL  AND  THERMAL  SPRINGS. 


II 


I' 


i 


[  'i^i 


j 


four  hours  ride  of  Gettysburg,  Carlisle,  Ilar- 
risburg,  and  Hanover." 

Ferry  County  Sjmngs.— These,  erroneously 
called  "warm,"  are  so  far  thermal  as  to  be, 
probably,  70°  or  72°  F.,  or  fifteen  to  eighteen 
degrees  higher  than  the  common  springs  of 
the  country ;  and  hence  the  water  would  fur- 
nish a  pleasantly  cool,  approaching  to  a  tem- 
perate bath.  When  drank,  they  are  said  to 
have  a  gentle  aperient  and  a  decidedly  diuretic 
effect.  Cutaneous  diseases  have  been  cured 
by  the  baths.  They  are  situated  on  the  banks 
of  Sherman's  Creek,  eleven  miles  from  Car- 
lisle, fourteen  from  Harrisburg,  and  the  same 
distance  from  Duncannon  on  the  Central  Eail- 
road,  and  at  the  foot  of  Pisgah  Mountain,  in 
a  district  which  allows  of  fine  drives  and 
rides. 

Carlisle  Sprinys. — The  water  of  these 
springs  is  a  mild  sulphureous  one.  They 
are  within  a  short  distance  of  the  town  of 
Carlisle,  which  is  traversed  by  the  railroad 
from  Philadelphia  to  Pittsburg. 

The  house  for  the  reception  of  visitors  is 
said  to  be  well  kept. 

Some  springs  of  common  water,  such  as 


DOUBLIXG  GAP  SPRINGS. 


175 


as 


the  "ITogshead  Spring,"  remarkable  for  the 
extreme  purity  and  coolness  of  its  water,  and 
Setart's  Spring  for  its  great  volume,  so  that  it 
turns  two  mills  at  its  origin,  merit  the  notice 
of  a  visitor  to  the  Carlisle  Springs.  The 
same  may  be  said  of  the  Cave,  on  the  banks 
of  the  Conedoguinit  Creek. 

Doubling  Gap  Saljjhureous  and  Chalyheate 
Springs— They  are  situated  in  a  gap  formed 
by  the  doubling  of  the  Kittanny  or  North 
Mountain,  about  thirty  miles  southwest  of 
Ilarrisburg,  in  Cumberland  County.  The 
Cumberland  Valley  Eailroad  passes  through 
Newville,  distant  eight  miles  from  the  springs, 
to  which  visitors  are  taken  by  stages. 

Professor  Booth,  of  Philadelphia,  writes 
respecting  his  analysis  of  the  sulphur  spring 
water  as  follows : — 

"  The  odor  of  sulphuretted  hydrogen,  per- 
ceived at  some  distance  from  the  springs, 
imparts  to  this  water  the  peculiar  properties 
of  sulphur  springs.  Besides  this  ingredient, 
I  find  that  the  water  contains  carbonate  of 
soda  and  of  magnesia,  Glauber's  salts,  Epsom 
salts,  and  common  salt,  ingredients  which 
give  it  an  increased  value.    After  removing' 


liii 


ill  I 


)1 


176      MINERAL  AND  TIIEKMAL  SPRINGS. 

the  excess  of  carbonic  acid  wliicli  it  contains, 
it  gives  an  alkaline  reaction." 

Of  the  other  spring,  he  says:  "The  chaly- 
beate water  readily  yields  a  precipitate  after 
ebullition  or  continued  exposure  to  the  excess 
of  carbonic  acid.  Besides  the  bicarbonate  of 
iron,  which  is  the  chief  characteristic,  it  also 
contains  Epsom  salts,  common  salt,  and  car- 
bonate of  magnesia." 

With  a  knowledge  of  the  constituents  of 
these  waters,  and  of  the  curative  powers 
of  the  respective  classes,  sulphureous  and 
chalybeate,  to  which  they  belong,  it  will  be 
easy  to  indicate  the  diseases  and  the  condi- 
tions generally  in  which  they  can  be  used 
with  benefit.  The  precise  dose,  either  with 
a  view  to  their  aperient  or  other  modes  of 
action  on  the  economy,  must  be  a  matter  of 
experimental  trial  at  the  springs. 

Fayette  Sjmng.—^^  In  a  deep  glen  on  the 
eastern  slope  of  Laurel  Hill,  and  half  a  mile 
south  of  the  iN'ational  Koad,  is  the  Fayette 
Spring."  So  wrote  a  correspondent  of  the 
North  American  and  United  States  Gazette^ 
July,  1854.  He  adds :  "  The  water  is  a  chaly- 
beate, very  cold,  and  of  copious  supply.    The 


BLOSSBUKG  SPRINGS. 


177 


attractions  of  tlie  place  arc  the  wild  scenery, 
and  refreshing  coolness  and  elasticity  of  the 
pure  mountain  air.  Pittsburg,  Wheeling, 
and  the  smaller  towns  nearer  the  place,  fur- 
nish the  six  score  visitors  who,  with  none  of 
tliG  flishionable  but  deleterious  luxuries  of 
the  great  watering  places,  enjoy  themselves 
more  rationally.  It  often  rains,  too;  so  I 
marvel  not  that  men  leave  the  valleys  to  en- 
joy here  the  blessings  of  showers  and  dew, 
of  lightning  and  clouds,  of  mountains  and 
hills,  and  all  green  things  of  the  earth." 

Blosslurg  Mineral  .S>n/2r/5.— The  town  is 
in  the  region  of  the  bituminous  coal  and  iron 
mines  of  Tioga  County,  which  borders  on  the 
State  of  :^rew  York.  It  is  connected  by  rail- 
road with  Corning,  in  New  York,  and  by  this 
latter  place  with  the  New  York  and*^  Erie 
Railroad.  It  lies,  also,  about  twenty  miles 
west  of  the  junction  railroads  between  Phila- 
delphia and  Elmira.  The  cross-road  is  rough 
and  mountainous. 

The  water  of  the  Blossburg  Springs,  as 
far  as  I  can  learn  from  Dr.  Edward  flarts- 
horne,  ranks  them  among  the  acid  class.  It 
probably  contains,  besides  the  excess  of  sul- 


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178      MINERAL  AND  THERMAL  SPRINGS. 

pburic  acid,  sulphates  of  iron  and  of  alumina, 
with  sulphate  of  magnesia,  and  possesses  the 
same  therapeutic  value  as  other  waters  of 
this  kind.  Dose,  a  tablespoon ful.  There  is 
a  new  and  spacious  hotel  at  Blossburg. 

Bath  Chalyleate  Springs.— At  one  time 
these  springs  used  to  be  visited  by  many  of 
the  citizens  of  Philadelphia,  on  account,  in 
good  part,  of  ready  access  to  them.  They 
are  a  short  distance,  half  a  mile,  from  Bristol, 
on  the  Delaware.  Dr.  Benj.  Kush  wrote  a 
notice  of  them  in  1773. 

Besides  these  mineral  springs  of  Pennsyl- 
vania now  enumerated,  there  are  cold  springs 
of  pure  water,  which,  owing  to  their  situation 
in  a  healthy  and  romantic  district  of  country, 
and  the  facilities  furnished  for  cold  bathing, 
have  acquired  deserved  vogue.  Of  these  I 
shall  notice — 

The  Yellow  Sjmngs.—  Thej  are  in  Chester 
County,  thirty  miles  from  Philadelphia,  and 
are  reached  from  this  city  twice  daily  by 
the  Eeading  railroad  and  stages.  The  view 
of  the  surrounding  country  is  fine,  and  facili- 
ties are  given  for  excursions  in  different  di- 
rections.   In  addition  to  the  natural  baths 


EPHRATA  SPRI^'GS. 


179 


by  immersion,  shower  and  douching,  of  the 
temperature  of  the  chief  spring,  which  is  53° 
F.,  warm  ones  are  also  supplied.  The  house 
is  well  kept,  and  the  table  really  good. 

The  Ephrata  Mountain  Springs. — These 
springs,  situated  in  Lancaster  County,  are 
resorted  to  by  large  numbers  of  people  every 
year.  The  scenery,  the  grounds  around,  the 
accommodations  and  means  for  baths  of 
various  temperatures,  present  strong  induce- 
ments for  visiting  this  spot. 

Caledonia  Springs. — To  the  inhabitants  of 
the  city  who  have  suffered  from  the  wear  and 
tear  of  business,  to  the  invalid  slowly  re- 
covering from  disease,  to  those  who  have  be- 
come weakened  and  exhausted  in  the  giddy 
round  of  pleasure,  and  to  all  who  would  like 
to  see  Nature  in  her  nobler  aspects,  this  spot 
is  eminently  inviting.  A  new  scene  and  new 
associations  of  a  genial  and  abiding  character 
are  opened  to  us,  and,  for  a  while,  at  least, 
we  feel  ourselves  relieved  from  leaden  cares, 
and  enjoy  a  sense  of  unwonted  freedom. 
While  nature  has  been  so  bountiful  in  her 
mountain  and  woodland  views,  her  pure  and 
copious  springs  and  streams,  and  a  vivifying 


180      MIXER AL  AND  THERMAL  SPRINGS. 


and  exhilarating  air,  art  lias  also  contributed 
its  share  to  the  comforts  of  the  visitors  to 
this  spot,  who  are  received  in  a  new,  spa- 
cious, and  well-ordered  hotel,  are  comfort- 
ably lodged,  and  sit  down  to  a  table  every 
way  well  supplied — the  viands  good,  abund- 
ant, and  prepared  with  due  culinary  skill. 

The  Caledonia,  long  known  as  Sweeny's 
Cold  Springs,  have  enjoyed,  during  many 
years  past,  quite  a  reputation,  when  used  as 
a  bath,  for  the  cure  of  chronic  rheumatism 
and  various  other  diseases  in  which  there  is 
blendiug  of  still  remaining  febrile  heat  and 
irritation,  with  debility.  Warm  baths  also 
are  always  to  be  had. 

The  springs  are  situated  at  the  foot  of  the 
South  Mountain,  which  rises  in  the  rear  of  the 
hotel,  and  in  front  they  command  an  extensive 
view  of  alternate  woods  and  fields,  terminated 
by  a  semicircular  sweep  of  the  North  Mount- 
ain. Temperature  52°  F.  Without  meaning 
to  undervalue  the  efficacy  of  mineral  waters, 
the  writer  can  recommend  invalids  or  the 
weak,  who  wish  to  become  stronger,  to  make 
the  regular  drinking  of  the  singularly  pure 
water  of  one  of  the  springs,  before  breakl^^st 


and 


I 


CALEDONIA  SPRINGS. 


181 


and  before  dinner,  a  part  of  the  pleasant  re- 
gimen of  good  eating,  sound  sleeping,  and 
varied  exercise,  which  he  will  enjoy  at  this 
favored  spot. 

The  reputation  acquired  during  so  loacr  a 
period  by  the  Malvern  Springs  in  England, 
for  the  cnre  of  a  large  number  of  diseases' 
may  well  be  participated  in  by  the  Cale- 
donia waters.  Both  of  them  are  remarkable 
for  their  extreme  purity,  and  both  are  appli- 
cable  to  the  same  curative  ends  when  used 
as  a  bath  and  for  drinking.  The  waters  of 
Malvern  sometimes  purge,  but  more  gene- 
rally produce  constipation-— effects  very  ana- 
logous to  those  caused  by  a  methodical 
drinking  of  the  Caledonia  waters.  All  of 
them  have  been  found  serviceable  in  chronic 
cutaneous  disease,  when  used  both  extern- 
ally  and  internally.  I  would  refer  the  reader 
to  what  was  said  of  the  Clarendon  Springs  in 
Vermont  for  additional  suggestions. 

The  Caledonia  Springs  are  fifteen  miles 
from  Chambersburg ;  the  greater  part  of  the 
road  being  the  turnpike  which  unites  this 
town  with  Gettysburg.  Visitors,  on  their 
arrival  by  railroad  from  Philadelphia  or  Bal- 
16 


1' 


i 


LtJl 


182      MINERAL  AND  THERMAL  SPRINGS. 

timore,  are  taken  out  immediately  in  omni- 
buses  or  other  vehicles  from  Chambersburg 
to  the  springs,  which  they  reach  in  the  even- 
ing of  the  same  day  of  their  leaving  either 
of  the  cities  just  named. 

The  Brandy  wine  Springs  in  Delaiuare,  once 
much  resorted  to,  are  no  longer  visited  for 
the  purposes  of  health  or  pleasure;  and  yet 
few  spots  in  the  Union  present  greater  attrac- 
tions than  these  springs,  in  their  elevated 
yet  not  too  exposed  situation,  pure  air,  fine 
scenery  and  charming  rides.  They  are  with- 
in a  few  miles  5ight,  I  believe),  of  Wilming- 
ton. The  water  of  the  chief  spring  is  a  mild 
chalybeate. 


r 


BATH  SPRING. 


183 


CHAPTER  XL 

Virginia— Tts  numerous  mineral  and  thermal  springs 

I3ath  (Berkley  County)— Jordan's  White  Sulphur  Ca- 
pon—Fauquier  or  Warrenton— "  Virginia  Springs"— 
The  Bath  Alum— Rockbridge  Alum— Volcanism  and 
Thermalism- The  Warm  Springs— The  Hot  Springs- 
Group  of  Sulphur  Springs— The  White  Sulphur. 

YiRGiNiA  is  peculiarly  rich  in  mineral 
springs,  and,  until  the  acquisition  of  Califor- 
nia and  New  Mexico,  had  more  thermal  ones 
than  any  other  portion  of  the  United  States. 
Beginning  with  those  in  the  north  and  ad- 
vancing to  the  south,  we  first  meet  with— 

The  Bath  (Berkley  County)  Sprixg.— 
This  is  a  mild  carbonated  thermal  water  of 
the  temperature  of  73°  F.,  the  same  as  that 
which  in  England,  by  a  strange  blunder,  is 
called  Bristol  Hot  Well.  It  has  been  very 
serviceable  in  a  variety  of  chronic  diseases, 
when  used  as  a  bath.  Persons  who  went 
there  crippled  with  chronic  rheumatism  have 
come  away  quite  restored  to  the  free  use  of 
their  limbs,  and  as  agile  in  all  their  move- 


MINERAL  AND  THERMAL  SPRINGS. 

ments  as  the  country  people  around.  The 
internal  use  of  the  water,  which  holds  in 
solution  some  of  the  salts  of  lime  and  mag- 
nesia, merits  more  attention  than  it  has 
generally  received,  especially  in  atonic  and 
irritable'  dyspepsia  and  chronic  bowel  dis- 
eases. In  irritable  bladder  and  the  tendency 
to  lithic  acid  deposits  it  will  also  be  found 
useful.  The  dose  of  the  Bristol,  or,  as  it  is 
now  called,  Clifton  water,  is  two  half  pints, 
with  some  interval  between  them,  before 
breakfast,  and  the  same  cpantity  between 
breakfast  and  dinner. 

Bath  is  within  a  short  distance  of  the  Bal- 
timore and  Ohio  Eailroad,  if  we  are  not  mis- 
taken; and,  as  already  stated,  it  is  not  far 
from  Bedford,  Pennsylvania.  The  hotels 
are  well  kept. 

Shannondale  Saline  Springs. — These 
springs  are  within  a  few  miles  of  Charlestown, 
Jefferson  County,  through  which  the  railroad 
from  Harper's  Ferry  to  Winchester  passes. 
There  visitors  take  stages,  and,  after  a  ride 
of  five  miles,  are  at  the  Springs.  The  water 
acts  as  a  mild  aperient  and  diuretic,  and  is 
adapted,  in  consequence,  to  a  large  circle  of 


gone 

nnd  g 
the  \ 


^T 


JORDAN'S  WHITE  SULPHUR  SPRINGS.      185 

diseases  in  which  a  gradual  reducing  process 
of  chronic  inflammation  and  irritation  is 
gone  i^hroagh  without  pain  or  annoyance, 
pr'Q  with  an  improvement  of  the  appetite 
nnd  general  suenglh.  The  springs  are  near 
the  brnks  of  the  Shenandoah  Eiver,  the 
3-v-ui  of  wh.ose  A'vacers  is  heard  with  an 
agreeaole  eiiect  n  the  hotel  on  the  hill  where 
the  visitors  arc  quartered.  There  are  few 
spots  in  the  Union  which  present  so  man}^ 
natural  advantages  and  capabilities  for  ex- 
tended waLvS,  gardens,  and  groves  as  Shan- 
nondale. 

Jordan's  White  Sulphur  Springs.— 
They  are  about  five  or  six  miles  from  Win- 
chester, and  two  miles  from  the  railroad  be- 
tween this  town  and  Harper's  Ferry.  Pas- 
sengers leaving  Baltimore  in  the  morning 
will  reach  the  springs  about  three  in  the 
afternoon.  The  waters  are  serviceable  in 
chronic  dyspepsia  with  a  torpid  sta^.e  of  the 
liver,  chronic  rheumatism,  cutaneous  affec- 
tions, and  the  debility  left  by  fevers. 

Many  of  the  visitors  to  the  upper  or  moun- 
tain springs  in  the  southwestern  part  of  the 
State,  spend  a  few  days  here  on  their  return 

16* 


im 


h\ 


MINERAL  AND  THERMAL  SPRINGS. 

to  the  north;  and  those  from  the  Eastern 
Shore  and  Northern  Neck  linger  late  in  the 
season,  until  it  is  safe  for  them  to  go  home, 
with  a  prospect  of  escaping  an  attack  of  their 
endemic  fevers. 

Capon  Springs. — These  have  come  greatly 
into  vogue  of  late  years,  and,  as  it  would 
seem,  not  without  good  reason.  The  water 
is  beneiicial  in  certain  forms  of  dyspepsia  and 
in  renal  affections,  especially,  as  we  are  told, 
in  the  lithic  acid  diathesis.  The  arrange- 
ments for  cold  bathing  are  on  a  large  scale, 
and  the  baths  of  a  superior  kind.  Warm 
bathing  can  also  be  enjoyed  by  those  who 
claim  it,  either  as  a  hygienic  agent  or  a 
remedy  in  disease.  Mountain  air  largely 
inhaled  gives  a  keener  relish  for  the  moun- 
tain mutton,  of  which  the  lovers  of  good 
cheer  speak  so  highly  at  this  place.  A 
hotel  of  the  first  class  has  been  erected,  and 
furnishes  good  quarters  to  a  large  number  of 
visitors.  Not  a  few  have  their  own  houses 
and  cabins. 

The  Capon  Springs  are  about  thirty  miles 
from  Winchester.  Whether  for  fear  of  di- 
minishing the  reputation  of  the  water  as  a 


I 


WAERENTON  WHITE  SULPHUR  SPRINGS.    187 

medicinal  agent,  bj  showing  how  very  slight 
is  its  mineral  impregnation,  or  owing  to  the 
indolence  of  the  parties  more  directly  in- 
terested in  the  question,  we  cannot  say ;  but, 
as  yet,  there  has  been  no  analysis  made,  or, 
at  any  rate,  reported,  which  has  come  under 
my  notice. 

Fauquier  or  Waerenton  White  Sul- 
PHURSpRmGS.— They  derive  their  first  name 
from  the  county,  the  second  from  the  town 
near  to  which  (six  and  a  half  miles)  they  are 
situated.  They  are  thus  within  a  few  miles 
of  the  railroad  from  Alexandria  to  Wan  en- 
ton,  and  at  the  same  distance  to  the  one  from 
Staunton  via  Gordonsville,  which  traverses 
the  valley ;  and  they  are  reached  by  stages 
from  Winchester. 

The  waters  are  of  a  mild  sulphureous  na- 
ture, but  of  the  proportion  of  their  gaseous 
and  solid  contents  we  are  ignorant.  Numer- 
ous cases  are  recorded  of  their  efficacy  in 
dyspepsia,  chronic  diarrhoea  and  chronic 
rheum,atism,  also  in  renal  affections  and  dis- 
orders  of  females,  but  without  very  minute 
specification  of  the  organic  lesions  in  these 
latter. 


m 


ii  ii^ 


-HI  ilk 


188      MINERAL  AND  THERMAL  SPRINGS. 


Superior  attractions  to  those  of  the  waters 
are  oflbred  to  the  crowd  of  visitors  in  a  noble 
mansion  as  a  hotel,  extensile  and  tastefully 
arranged  grounds,  ornamented  with  shrub- 
beries and  parterres.  In  addition  to  the  maiix 
building  or  pavilion,  which  has  a  portico  on 
its  western  front  commanding  a  view  of  the 
lawn  and  an  extensive  picturesque  region 
beyond,  there  are  several  brick  buildings  of 
a  large  size.  Ample  provision  is  made  for 
all  the  varieties  of  bathing. 

Traversing  the  beautiful  and  fertile  region, 
knov/n  as  the  Valley,  between  the  Blue  Ridge 
and  the  Alleghany  Mountains,  which  begins 
at  Harper's  Ferrj^,  and  ends  at  the  Natural 
Bridge,  south  of  Lexington,  we  find  ourselves 
in  the  region  of  the  celebrated  "Virginia 
Springs."  We  know  of  no  part  of  the  world, 
of  the  same  extent,  which  is  marked  by  such 
a  number  and  variety  of  mineral  and  thermal 
springs  as  the  one  now  under  notice.  It  pos- 
sesses, at  the  same  time,  the  advantages  of  a 
fine  climate  and  scenery  of  a  highly  diversi- 
fied character.  The  company  at  the  several 
springs,  free  from  aristocratic  pretensions  and 
ridiculous  attempts  at  exclusiveness,  always 


■^m  III  jwianpi 


BATH  ALUM  SPRINGS. 


180 


exhibits  a  large  share  of  int'-l^igencO;  good 
taste  and  sociability.  The  i?  .sioi.  of  the 
Virginian  or  southern  element— a  frank,  cor- 
dial address  and  good  hum  >•— adds  not  a 
little  to  the  pleasures  of  the  nonhern  visitors, 
who,  with  excellent  intentions,  are  not  re- 
markable for  that  ease  of  manner  and  confid- 
ing speech  which  invite  intimacy. 

Leaving  Staunton,  with  a  design  to  visit 
the  "springs,"  we  shape  our  course  west,  and 
at  a  distance  of  forty-five  railes  in  that  direc- 
tion, we  reach — 

The  Bath  Ahwo  Springs. — They  are  on  the 
main  road  from  Eichmond  to  Guyandotte  on 
the  Ohio  Eiver,  at  the  eastern  base  oi  the 
Warm  Spring  Mountain,  and  a  few  miles  east 
of  these  springs  on  the  direct  road  fro.ii 
Staunton  to  the  White  Sulphur  Springs. 

An  analysis  of  the  water  of  one  of  the 
Bath  Alum  Springs,  that  most  used,  by  Dr. 
Hayes,  of  Boston,  shows  it  to  contain,  in  a 
gallon,  nearly  fifty-five  grains  of  saline  sub- 
stances, and  of  carbonic  and  sulphuric  acids. 
Those  most  active  are  the  salts  of  iron  and 
alumina,  and  on  them  and  the  free  sulphuric 
acid,  the   sensible  properties   and   curative 


iif 


m 


190      MINERAL  AND  THERMAL  SPRINGS. 


powers  of  these  waters  in  a  great  measure 
depend.  Being  a  strong  tonic  and  astringent, 
it  is  easy  to  indicate  a  number  of  diseases  in 
which  they  must  be  of  service,  and,  already, 
experience  has  proved  in  many  respects  what 
a  2^^^on  reasoning  would  have  suggested  re- 
specting their  beneficial  operation.  We  may 
specify,  as  first  on  the  list,  chronic  affections 
of  the  digestive  mucous  membranes,  includ- 
ing those  of  the  throat,  stomach,  and  bowels, 
and  marked  by  feebleness  or  imperfection  of 
function  and  morbid  secretions.  Similar 
praise  may  be  extended  to  it  in  chronic  rheu- 
matism, chronic  diseases  of  the  urinary  and 
generative  organs,  and  cutaneous  diseases. 
Chronic  ulcers,  simulating  cancers,  and  scro- 
fula have  been  greatly  relieved,  and  in  some 
cases  entirely  cured  by  the  methodical  drink- 
ing of  these  waters — a  result  quickened  by 
their  external  application  to  the  sore  or 
tumor. 

The  accommodations  for  the  reception  and 
entertainment  of  visitors  are  represented  to 
be  of  a  superior  kind  at  these  springs. 

Bockbndge  A  lum  Spriyigs. — If,  in  place  of 
turning  off  west  from  Staunton,  we  were  to 


w 


ROCKBRIDGE  AND  BATH  SPRINGS.      191 

go  further  south,  to  Lexington  and  the  Na- 
tural Bridge,  and  then  visit  the  Warm  Springs, 
we  should  meet  with  these  alum  springs  on 
the  road.  They  are  seventeen  miles  from 
Lexington,  thirty-three  from  the  Natural 
Bridge,  and  twenty-two  from  the  Warm 
Springs,  by  way  of  the  Bach  Alum  ones,  in 
a  valley  between  the  North  Mountain  on  the 
east  and  the  Mill  Mountain  on  the  west. 

The  composition  of  the  waters  of  these 
springs,  as  ascertained  by  Dr.  Hayes,  is  simi- 
lar  to  that  of  the  Bath  Alum  Waters,  and 
both  of  them  resemble  those  of  the  Oak  Or- 
chard Springs  in  New  York.  The  Eock- 
bridge  water  is  stronger  in  the  proportion  of 
free  sulphuric  acid  and  the  sulphate  of  alu- 
mina, but  contains  less  iron  than  the  Bath 
waters.  Its  use  is  applicable  to  the  same 
diseases  in  which  the  other  is  beneficial,  with 
the  modifications  required  by  the  differences 
in  chemical  composition  just  now  stated. 

The  following  are  the  analyses  of  the  two 
springs  by  Dr.  Hayes : — 

In  order  to  show  at  a  glance  the  compara- 
tive composition  of  the  two  springs  de- 
scribed, I  give  them  in  a  tabular  form. 


I 


iil! 


192      MINEKAL  AND  THERMAL  SPRINGS. 

In  a  gallon  of  the  water  are  found — 


Rockbridge. 

Bath. 

Sulphate  of  potash 

.     1.755 

0.258 

"          lime 

.     3.263 

2.539 

**         magnesia 

.     1.763 

1.282 

**          protoxide 

iron  .     4.863 

21.776 

Alumina 

.  17.905 

12.293 

Crenate  of  ammonia 

.     0.700 

1.776 

Chloride  of  sodium 

.     1.008 

Silicic  acid  . 

.     2.840  Silicate  soda,  0.150 

Free  sulphuric  acid 

.  15.224 

7.878 

Carbonic  acid 

.     7  536 

3.846 

56.867 

54.798 

Pure  water  . 

.      58315.133 

58317.202 

58372.000 

58372.000 

Volcanism  and  Thermal  Springs. — Now 
that  we  are  approaching  the  region  of  ther- 
mal springs,  it  will  be  well  to  inquire  into 
their  geological  relations,  and  to  see  whether 
here,  as  in  so  many  other  parts  of  the  world, 
they  are  not  associated  with  faults,  and  .other 
evidences  of  disturbance  and  disruption,  by 
which  the  strata  have  been  converted  from 
their  horizontal  position,  into  sharp  angles 
and  breaks.  Changes  of  this  nature,  evincing 
the  operation  of  a  deep-seated  cause,  usually 
referred  to  igneous  or  volcanic  forces,  were 


laical 


la. 


FAULTS — THERMAL  SPRTN"GS. 


193 


alluded  to  when  speaking  of  the  gaseous  and 
thermal  springs  of  New  York. 

Primitive  mountain  chains,  although  they 
rnay  not  present  on  their  surface  volcaric 
products,  bear  undoubted  marks  of  igneous 
origin,  and  of  having  been  upheaved  during 
a  period  of  the   greatest  activity  of  what 
may  be  caJed  general  volcanism.    Professor 
Forbes,  of  Edinburgh,  in    his  visit  to  the 
springs  of  the  Pyrenees,  has  shown  that  the 
majority  of  those   of  a  thermal  character, 
gush  out  at  or   near  the  line  of  junction 
between  the  granite  or  other  igneous  pro- 
ducts, and  the  stratified  rock,  resting  upon 
its  flanks.     "In  a  great  many  instances  it 
happens  that  part  of  the  springs  rise  from 
granite,  and  part  from  the  slate  or  limestone 
in  connection  with  it."     Thus,  as  Dr.  Dau- 
beny  remarks,  the  same  agent  which  forced 
up  the  granite  through  the  axis  of  the  chain, 
may  have   given   rise  to     he   hot  springs 
which  accompany  it,  just  along  the  line  of 
disruption.    He  points  out  a  similar  geolo- 
gical character  of  the  rocks  whence   issue 
the    thermal   waters   of   Dauphiny,   Savoy, 
Valais,  and  Upper  Piedmont,  and,  also,  the 
17 


4 


194      MINERAL  AXD  THERMAL  SPRINGS. 


interesting  fact  of  the  contiguity  of  some 
springs  to  remarkable  dislocations  of  tlie 
strata.  Examples  of  this  nature  are  pre- 
sented at  Aix,  Carlsbad,  Pfeffers,  and  other 
thermal  springs  in  Switzerland ;  and  at  Clif- 
ton and  Matlock,  in  England* 

These  views  are  strongly  corroborated  by 
the  situation  of  the  thermal  waters  in  the 
beautiful  mountain  region  of  "Western  Vir- 
ginia, which  Dr.  D.  visited  in  1838.  Dr. 
Wm.  B.  Eogers  has  given  his  views  on  the 
subject  in  a  paper  entitled  "The  Connection 
of  Thermal  Springs  with  Anticlinal  Axes 
and  Faults."  In  common  with  G.  Bischof, 
Dr.  E.  believes  that  the  expletive,  thermal,  is 
applicable  to  springs  whose  temperature  ex- 
ceeds that  of  the  atmospheric  mean  of  the 
region  in  which  they  are  situated.  He  then 
expresses  his  conviction,  based  on  his  own 
observations  made  from  time  to  time,  during 
a  period  of  eight  years,  that  a  great  propor- 
tion of  the  copious  and  constant  springs  of 
the  vast  belt  of  mountains  occupied  by  the 


I'- 
ll 


^  Description  of  Active  and  Extinct  Volcanoes,  of 
Earthquakes,  and  of  Thermal  Springs. 


ANTICLINAL  AXES. 


195 


Appalachian  range,  especially  tliose  of  the 
great  limestone  valley  of  Virginia,  "are  truly, 
though  slightly,  thermal,  and  that  they  owe 
to  a  deep  subterranean  source,  the  remark- 
able uniformity  of  temperature  they  exhibit." 
His  notices  on  the  present  occasion  are,  how- 
ever, restricted  to  those  which  are  decidedly 
and  unequivocally  thermal. 

Of  the  Jifty-six  springs  enumerated  by  Dr. 
Kogers,  embracing  twenty-five  distinct  lines, 
and  individual  localities,  situated  in  various 
and  remote  parts  of  the  valley,  and  the 
mountainous  belt  adjoining  it,  on  the  north- 
west, making,  in  all,  an  area  of  about  fifteen 
thousand  square  miles,  forty-six  springs  are 
situated  on  or  adjacent  to  anticlinal  axes, 
seven  on  or  near  lines  of  faults  and  inversion, 
and  tJiree^  the  only  group  of  this  kind  yet 
known  in  Virginia,  close  to  the  point  of 
junction  of  the  Appalachian  with  the  Hypo- 
gene  (primitive)  rocks. 

This  author  thinks  himself  justified  in  an- 
nouncing the  prevailing  law  in  reference  to 
the  more  decided  thermal  springs  of  Virginia; 
and  he  believes  that  in  the  other  parts  of  the 
Appalachian  belt,  they  issue  from  the  lines  of 


m 


196      MINERAL  AND  THERMAL  SPRINGS. 


h 


anticlinal  axes^  or  from  j^oirds  very  near  such 
lines.  He  introduces  sections  witb  suitable 
explanations  confirmatory  of  the  above  views, 
and  at  the  same  time  imparting  just  concep- 
tions of  the  geological  structure  of  the  dis- 
tricts in  which  the  thermal  waters  are  situ- 
ated. 

The  celebrated  White  Sulphur  Spring  is 
regarded  by  Dr.  Rogers  as  decidedly  thermal, 
for,  although  fluctuating  in  temperature,  its 
waters,  he  thinks,  never  indicate  less  than 
ten  degrees  above  the  atmospheric  mean. 

"While  agreeing  in  some  respects  with  the 
views  so  ably  advocated  by  Dr.  Daubeny,  in 
relation  to  the  evolution  of  the  gases,  and  to 
other  matters  associated  with  thermal  waters, 
the  Virginia  professor  is  not,  by  any  means, 
prepared  to  adopt  the  hypothesis  of  the 
chemical  action  of  the  metallic  bases  of  the 
alkalies  and  earths,  nor  to  accede  to  the 
opinion  that  the  heat  of  our  thermal  springs, 
as  well  as  that  of  the  rocks  from  which  it  is 
directly  derived,  is  due  to  what  is  usually 
termed  volcanic  action. 

In  explaining  the  phenomena  of  thermal 
waters,  we  ought,  he  very  properly  argues. 


VaRM  springs — BATH  COUNTY.       197 

to  try  and  do  it  b}''  explaining  the  chemical 
2)roperties  of  the  rocks,  in  connection  with  a 
generally  diffused  internal  heat.  lie  directs 
attention  to  the  almost  entire  absence,  over  the 
vast  surface  of  the  A-ppalachian  region,  of  ig- 
neous or  volcanic  rocks  ;  and  sees  in  the  pecu- 
liar position  of  our  thermals  in  reference  to 
axes,  simply  those  mechanical  conditions  ichich 
favor  the  access  of  air  and  ivater  to  the  deeper 
seated,  and,  therefore,  hot  strata  in  the  interior, 
and  their  expulsion  at  the  surface. 

As  bearing  on  the  subject  now  before  us, 
it  may  be  Avell  to  state,  for  the  information 
of  the  reader,  that,  as  we  learn  from  Captain 
Newbold,  a  majority  of  the  springs  of  India 
which  can  be  strictly  called  thermal,  occur 
at  or  near  lines  of  great  faults,  occasioned  by 
the  upheaving  of  plutonic  rocks.  A  similar 
remark  may  be  extended  to  some  of  the  hot 
springs  of  Asia  Minor. 

Warm  Springs. — They  are  situated  in  a 
valley  in  the  county  of  Bath,  between  two 
ranges  of  mountains,  one  hundred  and 
seventy  miles  from  Kichmond,  and  fifty  from 
Staunton,  on  the  turnpike  road  which  leads 
to  the  Ohio.     There  is  not  a  more  delightful 

17* 


illi 


198      MINERAL  AND  THERMAL  SPRINGS. 


m 


ml  ")i 


/■  ii 


natural  warm  batli  to  be  found  in  any  part 
of  the  world  than  is  obtained  in  the  reservoir 
which  receives  the  water  of  the  chief  spring. 
Its  temperature,  at  first  98°  F.,  is  soon  re- 
duced to  96°;  and  for  mere  luxurious  enjoy- 
ment it  would  merit  a  visit  from  Hudson's 
Bay,  not  to  speak  of  Canada  or  New  Eng- 
Iv.  A.  The  large  bath  is  of  an  octagonal 
form,  38  feet  in  diameter,  and,  on  an  average, 
five  feet  deep.  Nitrogen  is  largely  evolved, 
and  in  small  quantities  carbonic  acid  and 
sulphuretted  hydrogen  gases.  The  solid 
contents  are  in  small  quantity;  not  tv/enty 
four  grains  in  a  gallon  of  the  water.  In  ad- 
dition to  the  large  octagonal  bath,  there  are 
now  a  ladies'  bath  and  a  spout  bath,  and  also 
a  cold  plunging  bath  near  the  chief  warm 
one.  The  quantity  of  water  given  out  by 
the  warm  spring  has  been  estimated  to  be  a 
thousand  gallons  a  minute. 

All  that  has  been  said  of  the  enjoyment 
from  warm  bathing,  and  its  utility  in  a  long 
list  of  diseases,  is  applicable  to  the  extern?! 
use  of  the  Warm  Spring  water.  Adequate 
attention  is  not  paid  to  the  systematic  use, 
internally,  of  this   water,  which,   although 


" ffi 

m 


WARM  SPRINGS  IN  DISEASE. 


199 


possessed  of  little  mineral  strength,  might 
be  made  a  powerful  and  an  efficacious  auxil- 
iary to  the  bath.  In  plethoric  and  intlamma- 
tory  states  of  the  system,  and  with  a  tendency 
to  cerebral  determination  and  excitement, 
caution  must  be  displayed  in  the  large  or 
prolonged  employment  of  this  double  re- 
medy; for,  although  the  temperature  is  such 
as  to  bring  it  within  the  limits  of  the  warm 
bath,  it  comes  so  near  the  hot  as  to  prove,  in 
some  cases,  a  =?timulant,  and,  as  such,  it  is 
not  to  be  trifled  with  under  the  circumstances 
just  mentioned. 

The  house  at  the  springs  is  one  of  the 
best. 

If  we  wish  to  appreciate  at  their  full  value 
the  remedial  virtues  of  methodical  bathing  at 
the  "Warm  Springs"  in  Virginia,  we  ought 
to  learn  the  results  from  long  and  recorded 
experience  of  the  use  of  the  bath  of  nearly 
the  same  temperature  at  the  warm  springs  of 
Wildbad  in  Germany.  On  this  point  I  have 
written  elsewhere,  in  some  detail,  as  the 
reader  may  satisfy  himself  by  reference  to 
my  volume  on  Baths  and  the  Watery  Regimen^ 
in  which  will  be  found  an  enumeration  of  the 


B         J         't. 


200      MINERAL  AND  THERMAL  SPRINGS. 


HI 

1 

H 

diseases  successfull}''  treated  by  a  course  of 
bathing  at  Wildbad.  Objection  will  not,  I 
suppose,  be  made  to  my  repeating,  in  part, 
what  is  said  in  that  work. 

"  Paralysis,  both  of  the  lower  extremities 
and  of  one  side  of  the  body,  has  been,  in 
many  cases,  entirely  removed  by  a  course  of 
bathing  at  Wildbad.  Before  any  ameliora- 
tion takes  place,  the  patient  generally  expe- 
riences some  pricking  pains  and  tinglings 
in  the  paralyzed  parts,  followed  by  a  sense 
of  heat,  perspiration,  and  increase  of  feeling. 
To  these  symptoms  succeed  a  gradual  resto- 
ration of  muscular  power,  accompanied  by  a 
sense  of  electrical  shocks  passing  along  the 
nerves. 

"  Paralytic  persons,  of  a  full  or  plethoric 
habit,  or  whose  circulation  is  active,  should 
watch  the  effects  of  the  warm  bath,  and 
make,  at  first,  but  moderate  use  of  it. 

"  The  baths  at  Wildbad  are  lauded  for  their 
remedial  powers  in  affections  of  the  joints, 
white  swellings,  and  contractions ;  and,  also, 
in  lumbago  and  sciatica. 

"  Diseases  of  the  ckin  are,  in  a  more  espe- 


WILDBAD  WATERS. 


201 


cial  manner,  overcome  by  these  baths.  Those 
specified  are,  herpes,  prurigo,  ptyriasis,  acne, 
inveterate  itch,  fetid  perspirations,  kc. 

"The  baths  at  Wildbad,  conjoined  with 
the  internal  use  of  the  water,  at  a  tempera- 
ture of  92°  F.,  are  efficacious  in  scrofula  and 
chronic  aff^tions  of  the  glands  generally, 
including  enlargements  of  the  liver,  spleen, 
and  mesenteric  glands. 

"  The  water  of  Wildbad,  like  that  of  Wis- 
baden  and  Leuk,  may  be  regarded  as  a  pure 
thermal  water. 

"In  chlorosis  and  sterility,  not  rlnpending 
on  organic  affections  of  the  uterus  or  ovaries, 
the  "Wildbad  baths  have  displayed  excellent 
effects. 

" '  The  Wildbad  baths  are  celebrated  for 
the  removal  of  those  various  pains  and  aches 
which  not  seldom  attend  old  gunshot  and 
other  wounds.  A  case  is  related  of  an  officer 
who  had  been  wounded  in  the  arm  by  a 
musket-ball,  in  the  late  war,  and  who  was 
harassed  by  pains  in  the  site  of  the  wound 
many  years  afterwards.  The  use  of  the 
AYildbad  baths  reopened  the  wound,  from 


I 


202      MINERAL  AND  THERMAL  SPRINGS. 


w"hence  a  piece  of  flannel  was  discliargeJ, 
and  the  pain  ceased.''^ 

"  Counter-indications  to  the  use  of  the  Warru 
Bath. — From  its  effects  in  retarding  the  cir- 
culanon,  the  warm  bath  is  not  adapted  to  the 
plethoric,  nor  to  those  suffering  from  active 
conp^estion  of  the  great  viscera,  or  from  hem- 
orrhage, which  is  so  generally  associated  with 
congestion.  Hence,  its  use  is  not  proper  for 
the  apoplectically  disposed^  nor  for  those  who 
labor  under  cardiac  aneurism,  or  a  varicose 
state  of  the  vessels  generally.  The  habitually 
feeble,  and  they  who  have  been  weakened  by 
violent  disease,  will,  also,  avoid  the  warm 
bath,  unless  tlioy  have,  cit  the  same  time,  a 
febricula  or  febrile  irritation,  which  this 
remedy  will  remove.  The  tonic  effects 
which  I  attribute  to  the  warm  bath,  are  indi- 
rect, and  depend  on  its  abating  excessive  ex- 
citement or  irritation,  and  unless  these  states 
are  present,  its  contra-stimulant  action  will 
only  increase  the  existing  debility. 

"  In  all  cases  of  doubtful  propriety,  or  in 
which  a  trial  is  about  to  be  made  of  the 


*  Johnson — Pilgrimages  to  the  Spas,  &c. 


THE  BATH  AT  WILDBAD. 


203 


warm  bath,  as  a  means  of  cure,  the  immer- 
sion, at  first,  should  be  for  a  brief  peiiod — 
five  to  ten  or  fifteen  minutes." 

And  again  i  have  said,  "At  our  own,  as 
at  the  German  thermal  springs,  the  good 
effecis  of  the  bathing  may  be  increased  by 
drinking  of  the  water,  which  is  lilightly  lax- 
ative and  diuretic,  and  more  evidently  dia- 
phoretic. 

"Making  some  allowances  for  a  lively 
imagination.  Dr.  Granville's*  account  of  his 
sensations  in  the  ba'h  at  Wildbad,  may  very 
well  be  received  as  descriptive  of  those  en- 
joyed by  a  bather  in  the  Warm  Springs  of 
Virginia.  He  writes  as  follows:  'After  de- 
scending a  few  steps  from  the  dressing-room 
into  the  bath-room,  I  walked  over  the  warm 
soft  sand  to  the  farthest  end  of  the  bath,  and 
I  laid  myself  down  upon  it-  near  the  princi- 
pal spring,  resting  my  head  on  a  clean 
wooden  pillow.  The  soothing  effect  of  tlie 
water  as  it  '.me  over  me,  up  to  the  throat, 
transparent  like  the  brightest  gem  or  aqua- 
marine, soft,  genially  warm,  and  gently  mur- 

*  Spas  of  Germany. 


li 


204      MINERAL  AND  THERMAL  SPRINGS. 


'    n 


muring,  T  shall  never  forget.  Millions  of 
bubbles  of  gas  rose  from  the  sand,  and  play- 
ed around  me,  quivering  through  the  lucid 
water  as  they  ascended,  and  bursting  at  the 
surface  to  be  succeeded  by  others.  The  sen- 
sations produced  by  these,  as  many  of  tbem, 
with  their  tremulous  motion,  just  effleuraient 
the  surface  of  the  body,  like  the  much- vaunt- 
ed effect  of  titillation  in  animal  magnetism, 
is  not  to  be  described.  It  partakes  of  tran- 
quillity and  exhilaration  ;  of  the  ecstatic  state  of 
a  devotee^  blended  ivith  the  repose  of  an  opiurii- 
eater.  The  head  is  calm^  the  heart  is  calm,  every 
sense  is  calm;  yet  there  is  neither  drowsiness^ 
stupefaction^  7ior  numbness  ;  for  every  feeling  is 
fresher,  and  the  memory  of  worldly  pleasures 
keen  and  sharp.  But  the  operations  of  the 
moral  as  well  as  physical  man  are  under  the 
spell  of  some  powerfully  tranquillizing  agent. 
It  is  the  human  tempest  lulled  into  all  the 
delicious  playings  of  the  ocean's  after- waves. 
From  such  a  position  I  willingly  would  never 
have  stirred.  To  prolong  its  delicious 
effects,  what  would  I  not  have  given !  but 
the  badmeister  appeared  at  the  top  of  the 
steps  of  the  farther  door,  and  warned  me  to 


eschew 
is  danj 
greatl;) 
"'I 
meter 
told  m 
few  mi 
imagin 
Eeaun: 
found 
whene^ 
of  san( 
gaged 
which 
not  to 
warm  1 

At  ; 

of  the 
112°  F 
temper 
and  99 
both  S( 
regulat 
engage^ 
ing,  ch 
ing  the 


SOCIAL  BATHING  AT  LEUK. 


205 


eschew  the  danger  of  my  situation ;  for  there 
is  clanger  even  in  such  pleasures  as  these,  if 
greatly  prolonged. 

"  'I  looked  at  the  watch  and  the  thermo- 
meter  before  I  quitted  my  station.  The  one 
told  me  I  had  passed  a  whole  hour  in  the 
few  minutes  I  had  spent  according  to  my 
imagination,  and  the  other  marked  29J°  of 
Keaumur,  or  98i°  of  Fahrenheit.  But  I 
found  the  temperature  warmer  than  that, 
whenever,  with  my  hand,  I  dug  into  the  bed 
of  sand,  as  far  down  as  the  rock,  and  disen- 
gaged myriads  of  bubbles  of  heated  air, 
which  imparted  to  the  skin  a  satiny  softness 
not  to  be  observed  in  the  effects  of  ordinary 
warm  baths.' " 

At  Leu;:,  or  Loeche,  in  the  Yalais,  four 
of  the  baths  supplied  by  hot  water,  from 
112°  F.  to  124°  F.,  are  brought  down  to  the 
temperatures  respectively  of  95°,  96°,  98°, 
and  99°  F.  In  them  a  number  of  bathers  of 
both  sexes,  suitably  attired  after  a  strictly 
regulated  costume,  spend  hours  at  a  time, 
engaged  the  while  in  conversation,  read- 
ing, chess,  sewing,  taking  tea,  &c.  Count- 
ing the  two  periods  of  bathing,  the  first  in 
18 


ii 


M^ 


206      MINERAL  AND  THERMAL  SPRINGS. 

the  morning  and  tlie  second  in  the  afternoon, 
the  whole  time  spent  in  the  bath  daily  is 
from  two  to  eight  hours.     The  ordinary  pe- 
riod of  bathing,  or  cure,  as  it  is  called,  is 
twenty-five  days.     Two  or  more  seasons  are 
often  deemed  requisite  for  a  single   cure. 
The  water  is  used  internally  as  well  as  ex- 
ternally, sometimes  in  conjunction  with  the 
bath,    sometimes  by  itself.      The    time  of 
drinking  is  in  the  morning,  fasting.     The 
quantity  drunk  is  from  two  to  ten  glasses, 
with  an  interval  of  between  ten  and  fifteen 
minutes  between  each  two. 

There  are  eighteen  or  twenty  large  public 
baths,  varying  in  size  from  eight  feet  by 
eleven,  to  eighteen  by  thirty,  and  each  capa- 
ble of  containing  from  fifteen  to  thirty-five 
persons,  according  to  its  size.  Smaller  ones 
hold  from  four  to  six. 

It  may  be  a  question  how  far  the  leuker- 
bad  should  be  imitated  in  our  thermal  springs, 
by  invalids  laboring  under  a  certain  class  or 
classes  of  infirmities  and  disorders.  I  have 
mentioned,  in  my  volume,  other  places  in 
which  this  bathing  in  company  is  practised. 
A  description  is  also  given  of  the  plan  of 


TRANSITION  BATHING. 


207 


Pomme,  who  directed  liis  patients  to  spend 
many  hours  a  day  in  the  bath.  I  shall  not 
repeat  here  what  was  said  in  that  work  of 
the  several  diseases  for  the  cure  of  which 
the  warm  bath  is  resorted  to. 

In  dwelling  on  the  luxurious  and  salutary 
effects  of  the  bath  at  the  Warm  Springs,  we 
must  not  forget  the  internal  use  of  the  water, 
to  which  allusion  has  been  already  made.  It 
acts  on  the  skin,  kidneys,  and  glandular  or- 
gans generally,  and  in  this  way,  with  the  ad- 
dition of  a  slight  aperient  operation,  it  ope- 
rates as  a  gentle  but  efficient  alterative  in 
irritable  as  well  as  in  atonic  dyspepsia,  and 
restores  suspended,  and  removes  perverted 
secretions,  as  well  hepatic  and  uterine  as 
cutaneous.  To  derive  the  fullest  effects  from 
the  water  as  a  drink,  its  use  in  this  way 
ought  to  be  aided  by  the  bath.  The  quantity 
will  vary  from  two  (half-pint)  glasses  to  six 
or  even  eight  glasses  daily. 

A  cold  bath  plentifully  supplied,  adjoin- 
ing the  gentlemen's  warm  bath,  allows  of 
transition  bathing,  of  which  I  have  spoken 
in  my  other  work  On  Baths ^  kc.  Some- 
times, for  hygienic   comfort,  sometimes   in 


I 


I 


208      MINERAL  AND  THERMAL  SPRINGS. 


I, 

I   : 

I 

9, 1 


ll' 


disease  under  suitable  directions,  this  plar 
merits  occasional  trials.  The  fever  of  reac- 
tion from  bathing  in  the  Wildbad  water, 
spoken  of  as  a  matter  of  course  by  most 
German  and  some  English  writers  on  the 
"  Spas,"  has  been  too  much  dwelt  on.  We 
are  not  to  look  for  its  frequent  occurrence  in 
our  "  Warm  Spring"  baths. 

Hot  Springs.— These  springs  are  situated 
five  mile  west  of  the  Warm,  and  in  the  same 
county  o  Bath.  The  hotel  and  cabins  have 
little  in  their  appearance  to  recommend  them, 
but  the  table  is  good.  The  water  of  the 
baths — six  in  number — is  from  98°  to  106° 
F.,  and  it  is  so  distributed  as  to  allow  of  its 
use  by  imm^ersion  in  the  common  way,  and 
by  the  douche  or  spout.  Dr.  Goode,  the 
proprietor,  exercises  a  general  supervision. 
As  no  person  in  his  senses  ought  to  take  a 
hot  bath,  in  common  health  or  for  mere  plea- 
sure, these  waters  a  resorted  to  by  the  sick 
and  invalid,  and  hence  there  is  not  the  crowd 
at  the  Hot  which  is  so  common  at  the  other 
springs,  especially  the  White  Sulphur. 

They  are  too  powerful  to  be  had  recourse 
to  except  under  medical  guidance.  As  ex- 
citants of  the  first  class,  they  are  only  adapted 


ENGLISH  BATH  WATERS. 


209 


to  diseases  of  functional  debility,  without 
inflammation  or  active  congestion,  or  fever.  In 
chronic  rheumatism  and  gout,  and  in  chronic 
stomachic  and  intestinal  diseases,  in  -which 
the  circulation  is  languid  and  the  skin  cold  or 
clamm.y,  and  tongue  moist,  and  there  is  an 
absence  of  thirst,  the  hot  bath  and  hot  douche 
and  drinking  the  hot  v/ater  display,  often,  won- 
derfully restorative  powers.  So,  also,  in  tumid 
livers  and  spleens  after  a  subsidence  of  fever 
and  phlogosis,  in  paralysis  where  the  brain 
has  recovered  its  functions,  and  in  stiff  and 
anchylosed  joints  and  indolent  and  scrofulous 
tumors,  old  ulcers  and  chronic  diseases  of 
the  skin,  especially  of  the  scaly  kind,  these 
means  deserve  a  full  trial.  The  application 
of  hot  water  by  douching  adds  greatly  to  its 
power. 

Nine-tenths  of  the  patients  who  resort  to 
hot  bathing  at  Bath,  England,  the  tempera- 
ture of  the  water  being  upwards  of  100°  F,, 
are  paralytic.  Of  these,  more  than  two- 
thirds  are  either  cured  or  receive  great  benefit. 
All  these  patients  were  bathed  twice  a  week, 
and  many  of  them  three  times.  The  mode 
of  bathing  consisted  in  immersion,  and  douch- 


18 


7? 


210      MINERAL  AND  THERMAL  SPRINGS. 


V:l 


iii'i 


;  I 


ing  with  tlie  aid  of  tborough  friction  and  sliara- 
pooing.   The  exciting  and  diaphoretic  effects 
of  the  bath  are  greatly  increased  by  drinking 
the  water.     Hot  douches  or  spout  bathing  is 
an  important  variety  of  the  hot  bath,  and  adds 
greatly  to  its  effects,  whether  for  good  or  evil. 
The  internal  use  of  the  water  of  the  Hot 
Springs,  like  that  of  every  other  hot  water, 
is  attended  with  excitement  of  the  circulation 
and  nervous  system,  amounting  to  a  kind  of 
inebriation.     Often  it  will  be  found,  when 
drunk  in  the  quantity  of  half  a  pint  to  a  pint 
in  the  evening,  to  induce  sleep  in  the  pre- 
viously wakeful  and  restless.    Where  a  gene- 
ral stimulant  is  required,  the  effects  of  which 
we  can,  in  a  great  degree,  measure  in  advance, 
this  water  may  be  had  recourse  to  with  great 
advantage — as,  for  example,  in  gastralgia  and 
enteralgia,  in  weakened  states  of  the  stomach 
and  bowels  without  fever  or  inflammation, 
and  often  accompanied  by  chronic  diarrhoea 
and  dysentery,  and  especially  if  the  skin  be 
habitually  cold  at  the  same  time.  The  free  use 
of  hot  water  as  a  drink,  aided  by  the  warm 
and  on  occasions  the  hot  bath,  will  replace, 
to  the  great  comfort  and  lasting  benefit  of 


STAY  AT  THE  HOT  SPRINGS. 


211 


the  patient,  all  tlie  drugs  from  tlie  sliop. 
Not  only  by  its  direct  action  on  the  digestive 
canal,  as  a  mild  aperient,  but  also  by  second- 
ary action  on  the  skin  as  a  diaphoretic,  will  it 
give  early  relief  and  often  entirely  cure  these 
diseases.  In  other  cases,  where  no  pains  are 
taken  to  aid  its  diaphoretic  operation  by  ex- 
ternal warmth,  it  determines  to  the  kidneys 
and  increases  their  secretion.  As  a  diluent 
and  a  soothing  stimulant  it  will  be  often  found 
of  service  in  paroxysms  of  calculous  disease, 
both  renal  and  vesical,  and  particularly  of 
the  lithic  acid  variety.  Dr.  Falconer,  in  speak- 
ing of  the  Bath  water  as  a  drink,  calls  it 
antispasmodic,  attenuant,  antacid,  expecto- 
rant and  emmenagogue,  sometimes  inducing 
constipation,  sometimes  acting  as  an  aperient; 
and  he  extols  its  use  in  diabetes  when  all 
other  medicines,  even  the  astringents  had 
failed ;  also  in  dropsy  from  suppressed  per- 
spiration, and  in  hepatic  obstructions,  includ- 
ing those  from  biliary  calculi. 

A  period  of  a  month  to  six  weeks  would  be 
required  to  gi^^e  full  effect,  in  many  diseases, 
to  the  use  of  the  Hot  Sprmg  water  by  drink- 
ing and  bathing.    The  quantity  to  be  taken 


212      MINERAL  AND  THERMAL  SPRINGS. 


'4  iu 


as  a  drink  will  vary  witli  the  case  and  tlie 
degree  of  excitement  following  its  use.  As 
an  alterative,  from  three  to  six  half  pints  in 
the  day,  taken  before  meals  and  in  the  eve- 
ning, will  be  sufficient.  As  a  diaphoretic,  to 
produce  copious  and  continued  sweating, 
with  confinement  of  the  patient  to  bed,  it 
may  be  drunk  more  freely.  The  use  of  this 
water  is  contra-indicated  in  hypertrophy  of 
the  heart,  aneurism,  general  and  especially 
cerebral  plethora,  in  hemorrhages  actual  or 
threatened  in  either  sex,  and  in  inflammation 
or  fever  of  any  violence ;  also  during  preg- 
nancy. 

THE  GROUP  OF  SULPHUR  SPRINGS. 

On  leaving  the  Hot  Springs,  the  traveller 
reaches,  afttr  a  journey  of  thirty-five  miles  in 
a  southwestern  direction,  the  White  Sulphur 
Springs ;  and  if  he  continue  on  westwardly, 
he  comes  to  the  Blue  Sulphur,  distant  twenty- 
two  miles  from  the  White.  The  Salt  Sul- 
phur Springs  are  twenty-four  miles  southwest 
from  the  White,  and  the  Ked  Sulphur  are 
seventeen  miles  farther  on  in  the  same  direc- 
tion.    This  is  not  the  place  to  speak  of  the 


■ 

1 

::| 

1 

1 

l'^ 

Mmm 

i 

GROUP  OF  SULPHUR  SPRINGS. 


213 


geological  relations  of  these  several  springs, 
nor  to  inquire  liow  far  they  are  all  referable 
to  the  class  of  what  have  been  called,  of  late, 
by  some,  Secondary  or  Accidental  Sulphu- 
reous Springs,  in  contrast  with  those  of  the 
Pyrenees,  chiefly  thermal,  by  the  way,  which 
alone  are  thought  to  belong  to  the  class  of 
the  Natural  or  Primary  Sulphureous.  For 
the  latter  has  been  claimed  a  therapeutic 
energy  by  no  means  proportionate  to  the 
amou..L  of  their  constituent  principles ;  and 
hence  some  of  them,  with  only  a  half  or  even 
a  fourth  of  those  contained  in  the  secondary 
class,  will,  we  are  told,  display  much  more 
curative  power.  These  are  points  on  which 
I  can  only  enlarge  with  advantage  in  my 
larger  work. 

Whatever  result  may  be  reached  in  an  in- 
quiry of  this  kind,  no  one  can  contest  the 
really  curative  v^  tues  of  the  waters  of  this 
entire  group ;  at  the  same  time,  no  one  will 
de^^y  that  they  are  all  endowed  with  such 
therapeutical  energy  that  they  must  be  either 
beneficial  or  mischievous,  according  to  the 
wisdom  of  the  prescriber  in  adapting  their 
use  to  meet  the  requisite  indications.    Ko 


tk 


h 


Jiiii  lU 


11 


21i      MINERAL  AND  THERMAL  SPR'XGS. 

visitor  at  a  sulphur  spring  can  gorge  himself 
with  the  waters,  for  experiment  or  amuse- 
ment, with  impunity.     In  fact,  few  remedies 
are  as  diffusive  in  their  action  on  the  animal 
frame,  or  as  searching  and  alterative  on  the 
tissues,  as  the  sulphureous.     But,  in  order  to 
produce  their  full  and  salutary  effects,  they 
ought  to  be  administered  in  quantities,  or 
doses,  of  moderate  strength  and  for  a  length- 
ened period,  and  in  that  state  of  dilution  in 
which  they  are  found  in  mineral  springs. 
By  this  means  we  shall  avoid,  in  a  great 
measure,  that  excitement  and  disturbance  of 
function,  resulting  from  the  common  indis- 
criminate use  of  the  waters,  which  not  seldom 
constitutes  a  disease   itself,  or  brings  back 
with  aggravation  the  original  malady  they 
were  intended  to  remove.    Some,  particularly 
the  German  physicians,  insist  on  the  necessity 
of  a  mo^"'^ld  reaction  of  this  kind,  which  they 
call  bad-f-torm  or  commotion,  especially  after 
the  prolonged  use  of  baths  of  a  high  tem- 
perature.    "Were  we  to  admit  this,  it  ought 
to  be  regarded  as  a  conclusive  reason  for  a 
longer  time  being  taken  and  greater  patience 
displayed  by  the  invalid,  and  more  watchful 


WHITE  SULPHUR  SPRINGS. 


215 


superintendence  on  the  part  of  the  physician, 
than  arc  conceded  for  the  treatment  of  a  case 
of  chronic  disease  at  any  of  the  sulphur 
springs.  To  do  full,  we  ought  rather  to  say 
common,  justice  to  such  a  case,  the  methodical 
and  regular  use  of  the  bath,  together  with 
drinking  of  the  water,  must  be  enjoined. 

White  Sulphur  S2)rings. — Experience  has 
pretty  well  established  the  fact  of  the  water 
of  the  White  Sulphur  Springs^  on  Howard's 
Creek,  the  original  "White  Sulphur  of  Green- 
brier County,  being  the  strongest,  most  ac- 
tive, and  stimulating,  and  there^  "e,  when 
misapplied,  the  most  mischievous  of  the 
group,  and  the  one  which  requires  the  great- 
est caution  in  its  use.  These  matters  will 
be  regulated  by  physicians  on  the  spot. 
Among  them.  Dr.  Moorman  has  given  us 
the  result  of  his  now  somewhat  long  expe- 
rience of  the  remedial  value  of  the  White 
Sulphur  water,  in  a  small  volume,  entitled 
The  Virginia  Sjorings.  He,  or  some  other 
permanently  resident  physician,  ought  to  be 
consulted  by  all  the  invalids,  who  propose 
to  make  use  of  the  water  of  the  White    Sul- 


ki 


iiiH 


ii| 


216      MINERAL  AND  THERMAL  SPRINGS. 

phur.  The  terr^jerature  of  tliis  water,  57°, 
as  stated  by  some,  and  62°  F.,  according  to 
Dr.  Moorman,  is  several  degrees  higlier  than 
that  of  the  common  springs  of  the  district, 
and  makes  it  rank,  in  strictness,  in  the  ther- 
mal class. 

The  chief,  or  the  Wliite  Sulphur  Spring,  is 
at  an  elevation  of  two  thousand  feet  above  the 
level  of  the  ocean.  "It  bursts  with  unusual 
boldness  from  rock-lined  apertures,  and  is  in- 
closed by  marble  casements  five  feet  square, 
and  three  and  a  half  feet  deep."  It  yields,  con- 
tinues Dr.  Moorman,  ab(  it  eighteen  gallons 
per  minute;  and  it  is  a  remarkable  fact  that 
this  quantity  is  not  perceptibly  increased  or 
diminished  during  the  longest  period  of  wet 
or  dry  weather.  While  other  springs  of  the 
country  have  failed  during  the  long  draughts 
of  summer,  this  has  invariably  preserved 
"  the  even  tenor  of  its  way." 

"  The  water  is  most  clear  and  transparent, 
and  deposits  copiously,  as  it  flows  over  a 
rough  and  uneven  surface,  a  vjhite^  and  some- 
times, under  peculiar  circumstances,  a  red  and 
black  precipitate,  composed  in  part  of  its 
saline  ingredients.  Its  iastc  and  smell,  fresh 
at  the  spring,  are  that  of  all  waters  strongly 


PROPERTIES  OF  THE  WATER. 


217 


impregnated  with  sulphuretted  hydrop^cn  gas. 
When  removed  from  the  spring,  and  kept  in 
an  open  vessel  for  a  sufficient  length  of  time 
for  this  gas  to  escape,  or,  when  it  has  been 
heated  or  frozen  for  this  purpose,  it  becomes 
essentially  tasteless^  and  inodorous^  and  could 
scarcely  be  distinguished  either  by  smell  or 
taste,  froL  common  limestone  water.  Its 
cathartic  activity,  however,  is  rather  increased 
than  diminished  when  thus  insipid  and  in- 
odorous.* It  does  not  lose  its  transparency 
by  parting  ^./ith  its  gas,  as  many  other  waters 
do  ;  nor  does  it  deposit  its  salts  in  the  slight- 
est degree  when  quiescent — not  even  suffi- 
ciently to  stain  a  glass  vessel  in  whicli  it  may 
be  kept. 

V  "  The  gas  of  this  spring  is  speedily  fatal  to 
some  animals,  when  immersed  even  for  a  very 
short  time  in  its  waters.  Small  fish  thus  cir- 
cumstanced, survive  but  a  few  moments; 
first,  manifesting  entire  derangements,  with 
great  distress,  and  uniformly  die  in  less  than 
three  minutes." 


"If, 


in 

4 


*  See  Chapter  V.— On  ♦•The  relative  virtvea  of  the 
Baline  and  gaseous  contents  of  the  White  Sulphur  water." 

19 


ii 


'    ''i 

»  ,    IT 


JiW'!! 


Jin 


218      MINER  VL  AND  THERilAL  SPRINGS. 

The  analyses  of  the  "White  Sulphur  water, 
by  Dr.  Hayes  and  Prof.  Wm.  B.  Rogers,  would 
not  induce,  a  priori,  a  very  great  confidence  in 
the  therapeutical  activity  of  these  waters. 
The  proportion  of  solid  contents  in  the  ana- 
lysis by  Dr.  Hayes,  of  a  pint  of  the  water, 
is  16.57  grains;  and  in  that  by  Prof.  Rogers 
nearly  the  same ;  of  which  the  sulphate  of 
magnesia  makes  4.32  grains  in  the  former, 
and  about  3  grains  in  the  latter  analysis. 

Dr.  K.  finds  about  1.5  grains  of  sulphate  of 
soda,  Dr.  H.  none.  The  largest  ingredient 
is  the  sulphate  of  lime.  bei'^«'  about  18  or  19 
grains.  The  carbonates  Jt  magnesia  and 
lime,  and  the  chlorides  of  magnesium,  cal- 
cium, and  sodium,  are  in  very  minute  propor- 
tions,  or  small  fractions  of  a  grain,  in  a  pint 
of  the  water  examined  by  Dr.  Rogers.  Dr. 
Hayes  makes  no  mention  of  the  chlorides  of 
calcium  or  of  sodium,  nor  of  the  protosul- 
phates  of  alumina  or  of  iron,  found  by  Dr. 
R. ;  but  he  reports  silica  and  the  silicates  of 
potash,  soda,  and  magnesia,  and  a  trace  of 

iron. 

As  regards  the  gaseous  contents,  one  is  sur- 
prised to  find  such  a  minute  proportion  of 


CONSTITUENTS  OF  THE  WATER.        219 

sulphuretted  hydrogen,  very  little  more  tlian 
a  quarter  of  a  cubic  inch  in  a  gallon  of  the 
water,  according  to  Dr.  Hayes,  and  not  more 
than  from  1.40  to  2.75  cubic  inches  by  Dr. 
Rogers's  analysis.  Carbonic  acid  was  in  the 
proportion  of  11.290  by  the  former,  and  7.75 
by  the  latter  of  these  gentlemen's  analysis. 
Iodine  combined  with  sodium  and  magnesium 
has  been  found  by  Dr.  Rogers,  who  reports 
also  azotized  organic  matter  blended  with  a 
large  proportion  of  sulphur. 

Had  the  matter  been  undertaken  by  less 
able  analytical  chemists,  we  might  suppose 
that  there  exists  in  the  water  a  sulphuret,  say 
of  sodium,  still  undetected,  which  might  give 
some  explanation  of  the  clinical  results  ob- 
tained by  its  methodical  use. 

Having  dwelt  with  some  care  on  the  reme- 
dial value  of  sulphureous  waters,  both  inter- 
nally and  externally,  when  speaking  of  those 
of  New  York,  I  shall  not  go  over  the  ground 
again  here;  but  would  refer  the  reader  to 
what  was  said  on  that  occasion,  as  applicable 
to  his  guidance  at  the  White  Sulphur  and 
most  of  the  other  sulphur  springs  of  Virginia. 
I  cannot,  however,  forbear,  even  though  it 


:.:  i 


lis 


;         li   .  .     I 
!        i1  .  :;■  1 


kll 


m 


220      MINERAL  AND  THERMAL  SPRINGS. 

may  involve  some  repetition,  from  introduc- 
ing Dr.  Moorman's  sensible  remarks  on  the 
use  of  this  water,  to  the  effects  of  which  he 
has  directed  his  attention  for  some  years 
past: — 

"  All  mineral  waters,  as  before  remarked, 
are  stimulants  to  a  greater  or  less  degree,  and 
consequently  are  inapplicable  to  the  treatment 
of  acute,  or  highly  inflammatory  diseases. 
This  remark  is  especially  true  as  relates  to 
the  White  Sulphur,  particularly  when  drank 
fresh  at  the  spring  and  abounding  in  its  Soimu- 
lating  ['-as.    It  is  true,  as  before  shown,  that 
when  its  exciting  gas  has  flown  off,  it  becomes 
far  less  stimulating,  and  may  be  used  with 
safety  and  success  in  cases  to  which,  in  its 
perfectly  fresh  state,  it  would  be  totally  un- 
adapted.     But  even  in  its  least    timulating 
form,  it  is  inadmissible  for  excited  or  febrile 
conditions  of  the  system;  and  especially  in 
cases  of  inflammatory  action;  at  least,  until 
the  violence  of  such  action  has  been  subdued 
by  other  and  appropriate  agents. 

"  It  is  to  chronic  affections  of  the  organic 
system  that  the  White  Sulphur  w^ater  is  pecu- 
liarly applicable. 


1 


MEDICAL  USES  OF  THE  WATEK.         221 

"Various  diseases  of  tlie  stomach,  liver, 
spleen,  kidneys,  and  bladder,  as  well  as  some 
derangements  of  the  brain  and  nervous  sys- 
tem generally,  are  treated  successfully  by  this 
ao-ent.  To  the  various  affections  of  the  skin, 
unattended  with  active  inflammation;  to 
chronic  affections  of  the  bowels,  and  to  gout 
and  rheumatism  it  is  well  adapted.  In  he- 
morrhoids, in  some  of  the  chronic  affections 
of  the  womb,  in  chlorosis  and  other  kindred 
female  disorders,  in  mercurial  sequelae,  and 
especially  in  the  secondary  forms  of  lues,  and 
ill-conditioned  ulcers  in  depraved  constitu- 
tions, it  constitutes  the  most  valuable  agent 
to  which  the  invalid  can  resort. 

"If  the  individual  about  to  submit  himself 
to  the  use  of  this  water,  is  suffering  from 
fulness  and  tension  about  the  head,  or  pain 
with  a  sense  of  tightness  in  the  chest  or  side, 
he  should  obtain  relief  from  these  symptoms 
before  entering  upon  its  use.  If  his  tongue 
be  white,  or  heavily  coated;  or  if  he  be  con- 
tinuously or  periodically  feverish,  or  have 
that  peculiar  lassitude,  with  gastric  distress, 
manifesting  recent  or  acute  biliary  accumu- 

19* 


] 


;^.H>! 


lii 


iiM 


iHI 


222      MINERAL  AND  THERMAL  SPRINGS. 

lations,  he  should  avoid  its  use  until,  by  pro- 
per medical  treatment,  his  biliary  organs  are 
emulged,  and  his  system  prepared  for  its  re- 
ception. Much  suffering,  on  the  one  hand, 
would  be  avoided,  and  a  far  larger  amount 
of  good,  on  the  other,  would  be  achieved,  if 
visitors  were  perfectly  aware  of,  and  carefully 
mindful  of  these  facts. 

"  It  is  an  every  day  occurrence  during  the 
watering  season  at  the  '  White,'  for  persons 
to  seek  medical  advice,  for  the  first  time,  after 
they  have  been  using  the  water  for  days,  per- 
haps, for  weeks,  and  it  is  then  sought  because 
of  vagrant  operations,  or  injurious  effects  of 
the  water.  In  most  such  cases,  there  will  be 
found,  upon  examination,  either  the  existence 
of  some  of  the  symptoms  just  mentioned,  or 
evidences  of  local  inflammation  in  some  part 
of  the  body,  sufficient  to  prevent  the  consti- 
tutional efficacy  of  the  remedy.  "We  are 
often  struck  with  the  control  which  an  appa- 
rently inconsiderable  local  inflammation  will 
exert  in  preventing  the  constitutional  effects 
both  of  mercurials  and  mineral  waters.  To 
remove  such  local  determinations  where  they 
exist,  or  greatly  to  lessen  their  activity,  is  all 


lii 


I 


THE  WATEK  IN  OTHER  DISEASES.       223 

important  to  secure  the  constitutional  effects 
of  sulphur  water." 

Dr.  M.  farther  enumerates,  as  coming  under 
the  benign  influence  of  the  White  Sulphur  wa- 
ter, dyspepsia,  including  gastralgia  and  pyro- 
sis, chronic  diseases  of  the  liver  and  spleen, 
jaundice,  chronic  irritation  of  the  howels,  dis- 
eases of  the  urinary  organs,  and  diabetes.    He 
thinks  less  of  its  value  in  amenorrhoea,  dys- 
mer-orrhoea,  and  atonic  leucorrhoea.     When 
resorted  to  in  these  cases,  the  use  of  warm 
sulphur  baths  ought   to  be   conjoined.     In 
chronic  afiections  of  the  brain,  bordering  on 
mania,  and  most  remarkably  in  chronic  cuta- 
neous affections,  also,  in  rheumatism  and  gout 
in  their  chronic  states,  and  in  scrofula,  drop- 
sies, and  mercurial  diseases,  the  water  has 
been  found  to  possess  great  virtues. 


I 


H 


224      MINERAL  AND  THERMAL  SPRINGS. 


CHAPTER  XII. 


]wm^4 


'■■■  ii! 

IhiM 


fi^ 


f 

■;  ■!(' 


Red  Sulphur — Salt  Sulphur— Sweet  Sulphur — Blue  Sul- 
phur— Sweet  Springs— Red  Sweet  Springs — Healing 
Springs  —  Dibrell's  —  Rawley's  —  Ilolstein  —  Church- 
Hill  Alum — Huguenot. 

Bed  Sul2^hur  Simng — in  Monroe  County, 
42  miles  from  the  White  Sulphur,  89  from 
the  Sweet  Springs,  32  miles  from  the  Blue 
Sulphur,  and  17  from  the  Salt  Sulphur. 
This  spring  furnishes  a  water  which  is  the 
mildest  of  the  group,  and  perhaps  of  its 
class ;  and  it  has  even  been  regarded  by 
some  as  sedative  in  its  operation  on  the 
animal  economy,  although  this  is  a  con- 
tested point.  If  it  act  as  a  sedative,  it  does 
so  probably  in  an  indirect  or  secondary 
manner,  as  explained  in  a  previous  chapter. 
But  still  more,  it  has  been  extolled  for  its 
power  to  cure  pulmonary  consumption  itself. 
Instances  are  recorded  of  its  effects  on  the 
action  of  the  heart,  so  as  to  reduce  the  beats 
of  this  organ  from  upwards  of  100,  and 


RED  SULPHUR  WATERS. 


225 


even  120  and  130,  to  70  and  Qd  in  a  minute. 
Drinking  of  it  allays  thirst  and  causes  sleep. 
That  it  has  really  a  soothing  and  salutary 
effect  in   tracheal   and   bronchial   irritation 
seems  to  be  pretty  evident ;  but  of  its  curing 
consumption  we  hive,  I  believe,  no  well  au- 
thenticated proof.    It  will  not  probably  ag- 
gravate  this  disease,    as   the   water  of  the 
"White  Sulphur  does.      For  details   of  the 
operation  and   curative  powers  of  the  Ked 
Sulphur,  the  reader  is  referred  to  the  work 
of  Dr.  Burke  on  "The  Mineral  Springs  of 
Virginia."     This   writer    gives   a   tolerably 
comprehensive  list  of  diseases  in  which  the  red 
sulphur  water  has  been  found  available,  viz: 
chronic  laryngitis,  chronic  bronchitis,  hemo- 
ptysis, chronic  phthisis,  functional  disease  of 
the  liver,  hypertrophy  of  the  heart,  mucous 
diarrhoea,    irritability   of   the    nerves   with 
sleeplessness,  irritation  of  the  kidneys  and 
bladder,  lithic  acid  gravel,  chronic  hepatitir., 
amenorrhoea,   dysmenorrhoea,    monorrhagia, 
chronic   splenitis,  chronic   gastritis,  hemor- 
rhoids, scrofula  and  chronic  exanthemata.    It 
is  contraindicated  in  plethora,  tendency  to 
apoplexy,  and  in  epilepsy,  vertigo,  and  the 
acute  stasies  of  disease. 


p»niFfBi 


226      MINERAL  AND  THERMAL  SPRINGS. 


iliiyiiil 


•lit 


1*1 


illJ»: 


.1 


f 


m 


i 


In  a  former  work,  published  twent3^-five 
years  ago,  I  pointed  out  the  then  alleged 
efficacy  of  this  water  in  hemoptysis,  and  in 
reducing  vascular  excitement. 

Drinking  from  nine  to  twelve  and  sixteen 
tumblerfuls  of  the  water,  on  successive  days, 
caused  at  first  a  diuretic  and  a  diaphoretic, 
and,  when  continued  to  the  fifth  day,  pro- 
duced bilious  evacuation  "as  much,"  writes 
one  writer  (Dr.  Scott,  of  Lexington,  Ya.),  "as 
I  ever  experienced  from  an  active  portion  of 
caJomeiy  Dr.  Hayes  and  Dr.  Wm.  B.  Eogers 
attribute  much  of  the  good  effects  of  the 
water  to  an  orojanic  matter  found  in  it  and 
many  other  springs.  Dr.  Hayes  calls  it  a 
sulphur  compound. 

On  analysis.  Dr.  Hayes  found  50,000  grains 
of  this  water  (nearly  seven  pints)  to  contain 
of  solid  matters — 


Grain? 

Silicious  and  earthy  matter 

6.70 

Sulphate  of  soda          .... 

.       3.55 

Sulphate  of  lime          .... 

.       0.47 

Carbonate  of  lime        .         . 

.      4.50 

Carbonate  of  magnesia        .         .         . 

4.13 

Sulphur  compound       .... 

.       7.20 

Carbonic  acid 

.      2.71 

23.20 


CONTENTS  OF  THE  RED  SULPHUR.  227 

The  same  quantity  of  water  exhibited,  of 
dissolved  gases,  the  following:— 


Carbonic  acid 
Nitrogen     .        . 
Oxygen 
Hydrosulphuric  acid 


1.245 

1.4'.)7 

.200 

8G 


3.088 


The  gaseous  contents  of  a  gallon,  or  231 
cubic  inches,  cf  the  Ked  Sulphur  v/ater  were 
as  folio    Sii — 

Carbonic  acid 5.  <  uO 

Nitrogen 6.91G 

Oxygen 1.201 

Sulphuretted  hydrogen        ....  0.397 

14.204 
There  is  no  free  carbonic  acid. 

We  may  doubt  the  propriety  of  introduc- 
ing  in  the  record  of  an  analysis,  as  has  been 
done  above,  a  sulphur  compound,  the  con- 
stituent parts  of  which  are  not  known.  M. 
Fontan,  in  his  valuable  work  on  the  mineral 
waters  of  the  Pyrenees,*  shows  that  the 
baregine  or  glairine— the  organic  matter  or 

*  Recherches  sur  les  Eaux  Minerales  des  Pyrenees, 

&c.,  1855. 


I 


228      MINERAL  AND  THERMAL  SPRINGS. 


m 


sulphur  compound  found  in  sulphureous 
waters — consists  of  two  distinct  parts:  1st. 
Baregine,  properly  so  called,  an  azotized  and 
gelatiniform  substance;  and  2d.  Snlphuraria^ 
a  vegetable  confervoid  in  close  affinity  with 
the  genus  anahaina  in  the  oscillaria3  tribe. 
"When  the  sulphuraria  is  exposed  to  direct 
light,  and  its  white  pearly  color  changed  in 
consequence,  there  are  developed  in  the  fila- 
mentous masses  which  it  forms,  some  other 
confervoid  plant,  whose  characters  are  not 
yet  fully  ascertained. 

As  regards  the  part  which  the  baregine 
may  be  supposed  to  perform  therapeutically, 
we   learn   that   although,  in  the   Pyrenean 
springs,  it  is  always  in  proportion  to  the 
amount  of  the  sulphureous  principles,  it  con- 
stitutes, ^.n  fact,  no  part  of  them.     They  con- 
sist mainly  and  chiefly  of  sulphur  combined 
with  sodium  in  the  form  of   a  sulphuret; 
and  secondarily,  in  much  less  degree,  of  sul- 
phuretted   hydrogen.       Sulphur    deposited 
with  the  filamentous  structure,  is  merely  so 
much  abstracted  from  the  water,  which  cer- 
tainly is  not  more  active  in  consequence. 
M.  Fontan  Droi^oses  to  ffive   the   nam.e  of 


SALT  SULPHUR  SPRINGS. 


929 


ireous 
;:  1st. 
id  and 


irarat 


Y  with 
tribe, 
direct 
gecl  in 
[le  fila- 
5  other 
re  not 

iregine 
tically, 
renean 
to  the 
it  con- 
ey con- 
nbined 
Dhuret; 
of  snl- 
posited 
srelj  so 
ch  cer- 
q[uence. 

amp.    nf 


pyrenine  to  the  substance  heretofore  called 
barcgine  or  glairine. 

Salt  Sulphur  Springs.— "Iho  designation  of 
salt  is  hardly  justified  by  the  very  minute 
quantity  of  chloride  of  sodium  which  enters 
into  the  composition  of  these  waters.  It 
contains  larger  proportions  of  sulphates  of 
soda  and  magn  ^sia.  The  temperature  varies 
from  49°  to  56°  F.  As  more  aperient  and 
diuretic  than  some  others  of  its  class,  the 
Salt  Sulphur,  though  it  must  still  be  ranked 
as  an  excitant,  is  applicable  to  mixed  cases  of 
febricula  and  languor,  as  in  chronic  dyspep- 
sia and  renal  affections,  and  chronic  diar- 
rhcea;  in  some  of  which  the  frequency  of 
the  pulse  has  been  r'^iminished  under  its  use. 
The  water  of  the  ''New  Spring,"  with  a 
smaller  proportion  oi  saline  matters  has  more 
evident    traces    of    iodine   than    the    "Old 

Spring." 

Analyses  of  the  waters  of  the  Salt  Sulphur 
Springs  have  been  made  by  Dr.  Kogers,  of 
Va.,  and  Dr.  David  Stewart,  of  Baltimore.  In 
botii,  the  sulphate  of  lime  figures  largely;  but 
the  chloride  of  sodium  in  very  small  propor- 
tion—a grain  and  a  half  in  the  gallon  of 
20 


■P^HB^    t  ' 

^^^&  ^^^^^~ 

i; 

f 

^H^^^H! 

■    ( 

|jL 

i 

1^ 

,i  ; 
'•  ! 
j'Ji 

■^  1 
ij  - 

If       ; 

':!     1 

fi  ' 

I^^^^^^^^^^^^BS 

1^ 

■ 

Hli« 

t^ 

230 


MINERAL  AND  THERMAL  SPRINGS. 


water,  according  to  Dr.  S.  While  there 
is  an  agreement  between  the  two  chemists 
in  regard  to  the  gases  in  this  water,  the  pro- 
portions which  they  give  are  very  different. 
Thus,  while  Dr.  Eogers  finds  only  3.46  cubic 
inches  of  sulphuretted  hydrogen,  Dr.  3tewart 
reports  19.19  of  this  gas,  in  a  gallon  of  the 
water.  The  latter  gentleman  specifies  in 
this  quantity  of  water  20  grains  of  sulphate 
of  magnesia,  24  grains  of  sulphate  of  soda, 
and  33  grains  of  carbonate  of  lime. 

Of  the  other  springs,  the  Iodine  or  Kew 
Spring  is  the  more  active.  Its  water  con- 
tains iodine,  bromine,  carbonates  of  potash 
and  of  soda,  alumen  and  phosphate  of  soda, 
compounds  not  found  in  the  other  spring  or 
Salt  Sulphur  proper. 

Dr.  Moorman,^  after  referring  to  some  pre- 
cautionary advice  of  Dr.  Mutter,  who  has 
written  an  instructive  pamphlet  on  the  sub- 
ject of  these  waters,  repeats  the  opinions  of 
the  latter  gentleman  in  the  following  terms: — 

"But  in  chronic  affections  of  the  brain,  in 
neuralgia  and  nervous  diseases  generally; 
in  some  affections  of  the  chest,  particularly 

*  Op.  cit. 


BLUE  SULPHUR  SPRINGS. 


231 


sucb  as  ai-e  brought  on  from  the  retrocession 
of  some  habitual  discharge ;  in  chronic  affec- 
tions of  the  kidneys  .nd  bladder;  in  rheu- 
matism and  gout,  and  in  many  diseases  of 
the  skin,  it  is  amc-^^-  the  most  valuable  of 
our  remedial  agents.  The  same  may  be  said 
of  its  value  in  mercurial  seqiielce— in  hemor- 
rhoidal affections,  and  in  some  of  the  chronic 
diseases  of  the  womb. 

"In  the  various  and  multiform  diseases 
affecting  the  abdominal  viscera— sucli  as  he- 
patitis, jaundice,  gastritis,  pyrosis,  dyspepsia, 
and  some  forms  of  diarrhoea,  the  Salt  Sul- 
phur is  one  of  the  most  valuable  of  our  reme- 
dial agents. 

"  The  result  of  our  own  observations  for 
many  years,  leads  us  to  entertain  a  very  high 
opinion  of  the  salt  sulphur  water  in  dyspep- 
sia—and pa.'ticularly  in  cases  connected  with 
obstinate  coptlveness.^' 

The  JBdue  Sulphur  Sprmgs  (Greenbrier 
CoL^nty)  are  thirty-two  miles  from  the  Red 
Sulphur,  and  nearly  thr  same  distance  from 
the  Salt  Sulphur  Springs,  and  twenty-two 
miles  from  the  Sweet.  Resembling  in  their 
chemical  nrooerties  those  of  the  Yf  hite  Sul- 


I 


II 


fM 


111  .  ^ 


3    ! 


u 


232      MINEEAL  AND  THERMAL  SPRINGS. 

phur,  these  waters  are  applicab'  3  to  the  same 
diseases,  and  require  the  samo  precautions 
for  their  use  as  the  former. 

Temperature  variable  from  43°  to  06°. 
Analysis  by  Dr.  Roger's;  Solid  matter  pro- 
cured by  evaporation  from  100  cubic  inches, 
weighed,  after  being  at  212°,  44.62  grams. 

Quantity  of  each  solid  ingredient  in  100 
cubic  inches  estimated  as  perfectly  free  from 
water: — 


Grains. 

Sulphate  of  lime  .         .         .         .         .        . 

20.152 

Sulphate  of  magnesia  . 

2.760 

Sulphate  of  soda           ... 

9.021 

Carbonate  of  lime 

2.185 

Carbonate  of  magnesia 

0.481 

Chloride  of  magnesium 

0.407 

Chloride  of  sodium 

1.868 

Chloride  of  calcium       .... 

0  005 

Peroxide  of  iron  derived  from  proto-sulphate 

0.015 

An  azotized  organic  matter  blended  with  sul- 

phur, about      

8.000 

Earthy  phosphates 

1                  • 

a  trace. 

Volume  of  each  of  the  gases  in  a  free  state 
contained  in  100  cubic  inches: — 

Cubic  Inches. 
Sulphuretted  hydrogen       .         .         .     0.45  to  0.00 

Nitrogen 3.25 

Oxygen 0.50 

Carbonic  acid 2.75 


I 


SWEET  SPRINGS. 


233 


Tlie  stimulant  operation  attributed  to  the 
water  of  the  Blue  Sulphur,  is  denied  by  Dr. 
Hunter,  the  experienced  resident  physician; 
but  his  experiments  on  different  individuals, 
as  reported  by  him,  leave  the  question  unset- 
tled.   We  may,  however,  very  well  demur 
to  the  practice  of  giving  it  in  inflammatory 
fevers,  as  impliedly  recommended  by  Dr. 
Hunter.    Putting  aside  speculative  considera- 
tions, we  can  place  more  confidence  in  this 
gentleman's  conclusions,  the  result  of  experi- 
ence, respecting  the  remedial  value  of  the  Blue 
Sulphur  watero    He  enumerates  the  diseases 
to  which  its  use  is  applicable,  viz:  Nervous 
disorders,  including  hypochondriasis,  hyste- 
ria, catalepsy,  chorea,  chronic  hepatitis,  ame- 
norrhoea,  irregular   menstruation,  and   dys- 
menorrhoea,  chronic  diseases  of  the  urinary 
organs,  chronic  diseases  of  the  skin,  particu- 
larly the  class  of  scaly  diseases. 

A  well  conducted  Bathing  establishment 
under  the  direction  of  Dr.  Martin,  gives  ad- 
ditional attractions  to   the    Blue    Sulphur 

Springs. 

The  Sweet  Springs^  among  the  first  of  the 
mineral  springs  of  this  region  which  were 

20* 


J 


4 


234      MINERAL  AND  THERMAL  SPRINGS. 


I  t 


visited  by  invalids,  still  retain  their  early 
attractions.  They  are  situated  on  the  eastern 
border  of  Monroe  County,  seventeen  miles 
from  the  White  Sulphur  and  twenty-two 
from  the  Salt  Sulphur,  in  a  beautiful  valley, 
bounded  on  the  north  by  the  Alleghany,  and 
on  the  south  by  the  Sweet  Springs  Mountain. 
It  is  the  spot  where  the  last  rally  of  visitors 
is  made  for  the  season,  before  separating  for 
their  several  homes. 

The  temperature  of  the  water,  74°  F.,  places 
it  in  the  thermal  class.  Being  in  taste  sub- 
acid and  slightly  alkaline,  and  evolving  free- 
ly carbonic  acid,  it  belongs  to  the  class  of 
acidulous  waters,  and  may  be  used  with  the 
same  benefit  as  these  are.  It  is  applicable, 
therefore,  to  irritable  dyspepsia,  with  gastral- 
gia,  renal  and  hepatic  colic,  and  to  bilious 
diarrhoea.  In  renal  affections,  and  especially 
in  those  of  the  lithic  and  phosphatic  diathesis, 
and  in  irritable  bladder,  it  is  calculated  to  do 
much  good,  when  continued  for  an  adequate 
period.  The  same  remark  applies  to  chronic 
gout,  of  which  these  disorders  are  often 
varieties. 

The  full  therapuetical  value  of  the  water 


BED  SWEET  SPRINGS. 


235 


I 


of   the   Sweet  Springs   is   far  from   being 
properly  appreciated ;  and  if  a  careful  clinical 
record  of  each  disease,  regularly  subjected 
to  its  use,  were  to  be  kept  for  a  few  seasons 
by  a  resident  physician,  it  would  show  that 
these  springs  might  be  compared  advantage- 
ously with  some  of  the  most  noted  of  the 
class  on  the   continent   of  Europe.     Their 
tendency,  after  a  time,  to  produce  constipa- 
tion, and  their  immediate  effects,  evinced  in 
fulness  of  the  head  and  often  drowsiness, 
point  to  their  cautious  use,  if  not  their  being 
withheld,  for  a  while,  at  least,  in  general  and 
also  in  local  plethora. 

The  copious  and  continued  supply  of  the 
water,  which  is  received  in  a  large  reservoir 
for  bathing,  and  its  temperature,  are  such  as  to 
attract  many  to  the  spot  on  this  account  alone, 
who  could  not  take  a  cold  bath,  but  who  find 
in  this  temperate  one  a  means  of  refreshment 
and  invigoration,  some  would  say  rejuvena- 
tion, in  wbich  old  Jason  himself  might  have 
rejoiced,  notwithstanding  the  marked  prefer- 
ence of  his  daughter  and  doctress  Medea  for 

the  hot  bath. 

Red  Sweet   Springs.— '^\\qsq   are   only    a 


I 


■:|i 


■■mc:\.!m- 


'1 


i   1- 


286      MINERAL  AND  THERMAL  SPRINGS. 

mile  distant  from  the  Sweet  Springs,  which 
they  closely  resemble  in  all  essential  particu- 
lars; with  the  exception  of  their  being  more 
evidently  impregnated  with  iron  than  the 
latter.  The  two  prominent  gases  are  nitro- 
gen and  carbonic  acid,  in  the  proportion,  re- 
spectively, of  62.5  and  37.5  cubic  inches  per 
cent,  of  the  entire  volume.  Of  the  three 
springs,  the  upper  has  a  temperature  of  77° 
F.,  the  middle  80°,  and  the  lower  79^,  the 
waters  of  which,  blended  into  one  stream,  give 
a  temperature  of  about  78°  F.,  or  4°  higher 
than  the  Sweet  Spring.  The  bathing  house 
is  a  large  building,  suitably  divided  for  the 
two  sexes. 

DibrelVs  Sjmng^  on  the  road  from  the  Natu- 
ral Bridge  to  the  Vv^hite  Sulphur  Springs, 
belongs  to  the  sulphureous  class. 

Healing  Springs. — These  springs,  of  recent 
discovery,  are  situated  south  of  the  Hot 
Springs,  at  the  short  distance  of  three  and  a 
half  miles.  "  They  are  placed,"  as  we  learn 
from  Dr.  Burke,  "in  the  gorge  of  the  moun- 
tains near  the  road  to  the  celebrated  Falling 
Spring,  one  of  the  curiosities  of  this  region." 
In  their  composition,  they  are  represented  by 


rawley's  spring. 


237 


the  same  writer  to  be  "apparently  very  like 
tlie  Sweet  Springs,  or,  perhaps,  more  so  to  the 
Bed  Sweet,  since  the  chalybeate  flavor  is  more 
distinct  than  that  of  the  former.  Like  the 
springs  mentioned,  they  bubble  up  from  the 

ground." 

They  are  said  to  perform  wonders  in  rheu- 
matisms, sprains,  herpetic  eruptions,  and  cuta- 
neous diseases  generally,  and  in  scrofulous 
ulcers.  Effects  hardly  short  of  the  miracu- 
lous have  been  attributed  to  the  waters  of 
^        the  Healing  Spring. 

(The  temperature,  84°  F.,  two  degrees  above 
that  of  the  famed  Buxton,  in  England,  makes 
a  bath  of  its  water  adapted  to  a  large  circle 
of  diseases  in  which  the?  is  still  remaining 
excitement,  a  frequent  pulse,  dry  skin  and 
thirst,  and  in  which  its  moderately  contra- 
stimulant  operation  is  better  borne,  and 
more  useful  than  if  baths  of  a  lower  tempe- 
rature were  resorted  to.  As  a  means  of 
healthful  enjoyment,  it  must  rank  highly,  es- 
pecially for  children,  delicate  females  and 
the  dyspeptic  student. 

Rawley's   Spring,    a    strong    and    simple 
chalybeate,  is  in  Eockingham   Co.,   twelve 


1 


^'Wmm-- 


if 


m 


1 1.;! 


238      MINERAL  AND  THERMAL  SPRINGS. 

miles  from  Harrisonburg,  and  one  hundred 
and  twenty  northeast  from  the  White  Sul- 
phur. 

The  Holstein  Springs  are  in  Scott  Co.,  in 
the  southwestern  angle  of  the  State,  near  the 
Tennessee  line,  forty  miles  from  Abingdon, 
and  sixty  from  the  Warm  Springs  of  Bun- 
comb  Co.,  N.  C.     One  of  them  comes  within 
the  thermal  limits,  being  68°.5  F.,  or  fifteen 
or  sixteen  degrees  higher  than  the  common 
springs  of  the  country  around.     Of  the  saline 
constituents  of  the  water,  the  chief  ones  are 
sulphates  of  magnesia  and  of  lime ;  the  saline 
contents  altogether  being  41.14  grains  in  the 
gallon.    It  is  represented  by  Dr.  Gaines,  to 
whom  I  am  indebted  for  all  the  information 
I  have  on  the  subject,  to  be  actively  diuretic, 
and  with  suitable  appliances  diaphoretic.    Its 
action  on  the  bowels  is  induced,  by  restoring 
to  the   digestive    canal   its   lost    tone    and 
healthy  secretions.      With  proper  caution, 
the  bath  will  be  found  serviceable  in  certain 
cases. 

In  Eastern  Virginia,  I  have  to  speak  of 
two  springs  which  merit  attention. 

Church  Hill  Alum  Spring. — This  is  a  recent 


HUGUENOT  SPRINGS. 


239 


addition  to  the  mineral  springs  of  Virginia, 
having  been   discovered   or   rather  opened 
only  a  few  years  ago,  in  the  process  of  level- 
ling a  street,  which  bordered  on  the  garden 
of  a  lady  in  the  city  of  Ei^hmond.     The 
supply  of  water  is  abundant,  and  its  mineral 
constituents   place   it   at   the   head   of  this 
class  of  springs.     An  analysis  by  Professor 
Booth  shows  it  to  contain  184.5  grains  of 
alkaline  salts,   159.5   of  salts  of  iron,  and 
7.3  of  persulphate  of  alumina  in  a  gallon. 
Of  the  alkaline  salts  nearly  one-half  is  Epsom 
salts.     On  this  account  it  is  generally   aperi- 
ent, while,  at  the  same  time,  owing  to  its 
large  aluminous  and  chalybeate  impregna- 
tion, it  manifests  actively  tonic  and  astring- 
ent properties.     This  alum  water  is  of  great 
value  in  a  number  of  diseases,  such  as  passive 
hemorrhage,  the  profluvia,  nervous  diseases, 
and  cutaneous  and  ulcerative  affections.     It 
is  used  to  a  considerable  extent  in  Philadel- 
phia.   I  have  prescribed  it  in  several  cases 
with  decided  benefit. 

Huguenot  (formerly  Howard's)  Springs. — 
These  are  two  in  number,  a  Sulp)hureous  and 
a  Chalvheate,  situated  near  James  River,  in 


, 


ill  mm 


%■ 


240      MINERAL  AND  THERMAL  SPRINGS. 

Powhattan  Co.,  17  miles  above  Kichmond,  on 
the  main  river  road,  between  that  city  and 
Lynchburg.  The  Sulphur  Spring  resembles 
the  White  Sulphur;  but  its  water  is  not  so 
strong  as  that  of  the  latter.  The  chalybeate 
has  the  virtues  of  its  class.  Dr.  Eoyster, 
to  whom  I  am  indebted  for  a  notice  of  these 
springs,  writes  favorably  of  their  utility  in 
different  diseases.  Suitable  arrangements 
have  been  made  for  the  reception  and  accom- 
modation of  visitors. 


KENTUCKY  SPRINGS. 


241 


ad,  on 
y  and 
mbles 
lot  so 
^beate 
>yster, 
'  these 
ity  in 
ments 
,ccom- 


CHAPTER  XIII. 

KENTUCKY  SPRINGS. 

Kentucky  Springs— Ilarrodsburg— Rochester— Olympian 
—Blue  Lick— Lower  Blue  Lick  — Ohio  Springs- 
Yellow  Spring— Westport— Illinois  Springs— Tennes- 
see Springs  —  White  Creek  -  -  Robertson's  —  Lee's  — 
Nashville — Winchester — Montevale. 

For  a  knowledge  of  the  chief  mineral 
springs  of  Kentucky,  I  must  gratefully  ac- 
knowledge my  obligation  to  Dr.  Drake.* 

Harrodshurg  Springs.— ^' These  springs  be- 
long to  the  basinf  now  nnder  examination, 
being  situated  near  the  sources  of  Salt  River. 
Unlike  most  of  the  mineral  springs  of  Ken- 
tucky, which  are  found  in  deep  valleys,  these 

*  Principal  Diseases  of  the  Interior  Valley  of  North 
America,  Vol.  I. 

f  [Basin  of  Salt  River.  Up  this  stream  the  defeated 
party,  after  a  political  contest  in  our  country,  is  invited 
to  take  refuge.  I  have  myself  received,  jefore  now,  a 
printed  card,  in  the  form  of  a  free  ticket,  for  this  destina- 
tion.— J.  B.] 

21 


212      MINERAL  AND  THERMAL  SPRINGS. 


ill      I 


burst   out    near    the    summit-level   of   the 
country,  at  an  altitude  of  near  a  thousand 
feet  above  tlie  Gulf  of  Mexico.    From  near 
the  springs,  small  tributaries  of  the  Kentucky 
Kiver  and  of  Dick's  Eiver,  flov/  off  to  the 
east  and  north,  and  those  of  Salt  Kiver  to 
the  south  and  west,  a  sufficient  evidence  of 
the  relative  elevation  of  the  spot  where  they 
are  found.     In  every  direction,  for  several 
miles   round,  the  country   is   as   free  from 
drowned  lands,  marshes,  swales,  and  ponds, 
as  any  other  equal  area  in  the  Ohio  Basin. 
In  fact,  there  does  not  seem  to  be  a  single 
source  of  malaria  in  their  neighborhood,  and 
my  colleague.  Professor  Miller,  who  practised 
medicine  nine  years  in  this  locality,  has  as- 
sured me  that  intermittent   and  remittent 
fevers  are  far  less  prevalent  here  than  in  the 
Barrens. 

"  The  town  of  Ilarrodsburg,  in  the  suburbs 
of  which  we  find  the  springs,  was  the  first- 
settled  spot  in  the  state  of  Kentucky,  and, 
consequently,  the  soil  has  been  under  cultiva- 
tion since  the  month  of  June,  1774;  that  is, 
nearly  seventy-five  years,  a  period  quite 
sufficient   to  diminish    those    elements  on 


It' 

,1  * 


3. 

of   the 
lousaud 
>m  near 
:ntiicky 
■  to  the 
liver  to 
lence  of 
Te  they 
several 
36  from 
ponds. 
•  Basin. 
I  single 
:)od,  and 
ractised 
,  has  as- 
imittent 
n  in  the 

suburbs 
he  first- 
ky,  and, 
cultiva- 
that  is, 
d  quite 
ents  on 


HARRODSBURG  SPRINGS. 


2-43 


which  autumnal  fever  ?motcly  depends.  I 
am  the  more  careful  to  set  forth  these  iixcts, 
because  most  of  the  watering  places  in  the 
west,  from  being  in  valleys,  arc  scourged  in 
August  and  September  with  bilious  fevers, 
and  because  the  invalids  of  the  southwest, 
especially  those  who  have  been  made  such 
by  its  fevers,  cannot  have  their  constitutions 
repaired  by  sojourning  at  springs  which  are 
situated  in  malarious  localities. 

"Ilarrodsburg  Springs  are  not  only  in  the 
oldest-settled  spot  in  the  valley  of  the  Ohio, 
after  Pittsburg,  but  they  issue  from  strata 
which,  I  am  informed  by  Professor  Yandell, 
rest  upon  the  very  oldest  formations  known 
in  the  Ohio  Basin.  Considered  in  reference 
to  chemical  character,  they  are  magnesian 

limestone. 

"  Desirous  of  publishing  an  accurate  account 
;f  the  composition  of  these  waters,  I  desired 
Dr.  C.  II.  Ptaymond,  of  Cincinnati,  to  visit 
and  analyze  them,  which  he  did  in  the  month 
of  October,  1848,  selecting  the  two  fountains 
from  which  invalids  are  chiefly  supplied. 
The  following  are  the  results  with  which  he 
has  furnished  me : — 


n  .1 


1 :  ":; 

1 .   .., 

:   :i        If 

i 

1                    1 

i<|l 


III 


244     MINERAL  AND  THERMAL  SPRINGS. 

The  Greenville  Spring. 

Ingredients  in  a  pint  of  the   water,  stated  in  grains  and 

hundredths,  Troy. 

Bicarbonate  of  magnesia           .        .  »  2.87 

Bicarbonate  of  lime          .         .         .  .  0.86 

Sulphate  of  magnesia  (crystallized) .  .  1G.16 

Sulphate  of  lime  (crystallized)           .  .  11.00 
Chloride  of  sodium  trace. 


30.95 

The  Saloon,  or  Chalybeate  Spring. 

Quantity  of  water  the  same. 

Bicarbonate  of  magnesia 

0.43 

Bicarbonate  of  lime 

4.31 

Bicarbonate  of  iron 

0.50 

Sulphate  of  magnesia  (crystallized) . 

27.92 

Sulphate  of  lime  (crystallized) 

10.24 

Chloride  of  sodium  .... 

1.24 

44.60 

"  The  bicarbonate  of  iron  in  this  spring  is 
sufficient  to  impart  to  its  salts  a  light  fawn 
color.  The  water  of  both  springs  is  limpid. 
Dr.  Eaymond  could  not  detect  either  free 
carbonic  acid  or  sulphuretted  hydrogen  gas. 

"It  will  be  seen  by  these  analyses,  that 
every  tumbler  of  the  water  of  the  Greenville 
Spring  contains  within  a  fraction  of  sixteen 

half  of 


grains 


of  saline 


matter,  rnuru 


than 


COMPARATIVE  EFFECTS. 


245 


ains  and 

2.87 

0.86 
1G.16 
11.00 


30.95 


0.43 

4.31 

0.50 
27.92 
10.24 

1.24 

■  ■■■■■»IIM^ 

44.60 

)rmg  is 
it  fawa 
limpid, 
er  free 
jen  gas. 
3S,  that 
3enville 
sixteen 
half  of 


which  consists  of  magnesian  salts ;  that  every 
tumbler  of  the  water  of  the  Saloon  Sprin^^ 
contains  twenty  tv/o  grains  of  valine  matte i, 
two-thirds  of  which  are  sulphate,  with  a 
small  quantity  of  bicarbonate,  of  magnesia ; 
and  that  in  the  same  quantity  of  the  water 
there  is  a  quarter  of  a  grain  of  iron.  The 
patient  who,  in  one  morning,  drinks  four 
tumblers  of  the  water  of  the  Saloon  Spring, 
takes  nearly  a  drachm  of  sulphate  of  mag- 
nesia, with  other  saline  ingredients,  and  a 
grain  of  bicarbonate  of  iron. 

"  I  shall  follow  these  estimates  no  further, 
but  proceed  to  say,  that  the  water  of  the 
Greenville  Spring  is  the  better  antacid— that 
of  Saloon,  the  better  tonic.    Indeed,  small  as 
the  quantity  of  iron  is,  it  sometimes  produces 
an  uncomfortable  feeling  in  the  head,  which 
is  relieved  by  drinking  at  the  other  fountain. 
In  reference  to  the  excretions,  the  water  from 
both  acts  upon  the  bowels,   kidneys,  and 
under  proper  regulations  at  night,  upon  the 
skin.    Beyond  these  sensible  effects,  it  per- 
vades the   whole    constitution,   and    many 
classes  of  invalids  very  soon  feel  a  renova- 
tion of  appetite,  strength,  and  cheerfulness, 

2P 


VH] 


i.    r  .* 


t^ 


246      MINEKAL  AND  THERMAL  SPRINGS. 


althougli  its  primary  effects  seem  to  be  sed- 
ative, not  stimulant.  I  transcribe  from  the 
article  in  the  journal  already  quoted  {Western 
Journ.,  1828),  the  following  remarks  on  the 
curative  effects  of  these  waters. 

"  'The  cases  to  which  they  are,  in  a  pecu- 
liar manner  adapted,  are  chronic  inflamma- 
tions and  obstructions  of  the  abdominal  vis- 
cera. Thus,  they  are  eminently  serviceable 
in  such  cases  of  dyspepsia  as  are  attend- 
ed with  subacute  gastritis,  in  almost  every 
kind  of  hepatic  disorder,  except  when  the 
liver  is  indurated,  and,  consequently,  incura- 
ble ;  and  in  constipation,  so  constant  an  at- 
tendant on  diseases  of  the  stomach  and  liver. 
They  are  almost  equally  beneficial  in  chronic 
inflammations  of  many  other  part3  of  the 
system — especially  of  the  serous  and  fibrous 
membranes.  In  tonic  dropsies,  in  rheuma- 
tism, and  in  various  affections  of  the  perios- 
teum from  febrile  metastases,  from  syphihs, 
and  from,  mercury,  they  have  often  effected  a 
cure,  when  other  means  had  failed.  In 
several  urinary  disorders  they  have  done 
equal  good.  In  chronic  diseases  of  the  skm 
they  have  also  been  found  useful,  when  the 


HARRODSBURG  SPRINGS. 


24: 


patient  has  beei .  subjected  to  a  regimeu  that 
has  determined  them  to  the  surface.     In  pul- 
monary complaints  they  have   been   found 
serv^'ceable,  but  not  in  the  same  degree  as  in 
disc     .3rs  of  the  abdominal  organs,  and  their 
use  in  those  maladies  requires  discrimination. 
In  chronic  pleurisy,  and  the  early  stages  of 
subacute   bronchitis,   they   have   performed 
cures;  but  in  vomica,  tubercular   suppura- 
tions,  and   hepatization   of  the   pulmonary 
tissue,  they  are  injurious,  and,  if  persevered 
in,  may  even  prove  fatal.     When  they  have 
rendered  occasional  assistance  in  these  affec- 
tions, it  was  chiefly  by  correctin.cr  a  morbid 
condition  of  the  digestive  funct^  ns,  so  often 
associated  with  them.    In  sick  headache  they 
occasionally  do  good,  but  many  cases  of  that 
obstinate  malady  are  attended  with  such  an 
enervated  condition  of  the  nervous  system, 
that  their  sedative  operation  becomes  pre- 
judicial.' 

"The  experience  of  multitudes,  since  these 
remarks  were,  published,  twenty  years  ago, 
has,  in  the  main,  confirmed  their  accuracy, 
and  even  added  to  the  catalogue  of  maladies 
which  have  been  palliatec  or  removed. 


If 


m 


24.S      MINERAL  AND  THERMAL  SPRINGS. 


ti^Hi 


ii 

I  1 

i   '       'i 

1   '. 

f 

;|i  ■; 

1 

i 

,  '             '; 

"The  Harrodsburg  waters  have,  by  export- 
ation, been  extensively  distributed  over  the 
southwest,  and  even  found  their  way  into  use 
in  several  of  our  garrisons.  The  salts  ob- 
tained by  their  evaporation  have  long  been 
employed  by  the  people,  and  also  by  many 
physicians,  who  have  found  them  more  effi- 
cacious than  the  officinal  sulphate  of  mag- 
nesia. 

"  It  is  proper  to  say  something  of  what  art 
has  done  to  make  this  an  acceptable  resi- 
dence to  the  infirm,  and  to  the  friends  who 
may  desire  to  accompany  them.  To  this 
end  the  enterprising  and  courteous  proprietor, 
Dr.  Christopher  Graham,  through  a  period  of 
twenty- five  years,  has  devoted  himself,  a  Itha 
liberality  only  equalled  by  his  taste  and  dili- 
gence. Within  that  period,  his  permanent  ex- 
penditures have  exceeded  two  hundred  thous- 
and dollars,  and  he  is  still  inventing  new  means 
for  comfort,  amusement,  and  the  beneficial 
use  of  the  water ;  among  which  are  baths, 
both  cold  and  warm,  the  latter  of  which, 
from  the  high  degree  of  saline  impregnation, 
cannot  but  prove  valuable  in  a  great  variety 
of  cases. 


ATTRACTIVE  SPOT. 


249 


"A  topographical  map   of  the   grounds 
around  the  principal  spring,  including  the 
various  improvements,  has  been  made  at  my 
request,   by   Captain   Fuller,   topographical 
engineer,  the  inspection  of  which  will  render 
a  description  of  them  unnecessary  ;*  and  I 
need  only  say,  that  while  the  waters  are  per- 
haps adapted  to  as  great  a  variety  of  infirm- 
ities as  any  now  in  use  in  any  country,  the 
accommodations  which   have   been   created 
will,  from  the  reports  of  travellers,  bear  an 
advantageous  comparison  with    any  to   be 
found  either  in  America  or  Europe.     Such 
is  the  spot  which,  in  the  midst  of  a  highly 
cultivated  society,  may  be  added  to  the  wild 
scenes  on  the  Tennessee  Eiver,  the  Mammoth 
Cave,  the  Upper  Mississippi,  and  the  Great 
Prairies,  ah^eady  recommended  as  places  of 
beneficial   resort  for  various  classes  of  in- 

vahds. 

"But  the  attractions  of  the  Ilarrodsburg 
locality  are  not  confined  to  its  medicinal 
waters  and  its  munificent  accommodations; 

*  The  map  is  given  in  tlie  volume  from  which  the  pre- 
sent account  of  the  springs  is  taken. 


r-(?i 


IM 


250      MINERAL  AND  THERMAL  SPRINGS. 


:;i 


1     i 

i 


i  4  ■!' 


liiiii 


for,  althongli  it  lies  in  a  region  of  fertile  and 
gently-rolling  country,  which  would  seem  to 
promise  nothing  rare  or  romantic  in  nature, 
it  is  by  no  means  destitute  of  objects  and 
scenery  which  the  eye  of  taste  must  regard 
with  the   deepest  interest.     About   fifteen 
miles   to   the  southeast  are  the   "Knobs," 
where,  on  a  plain,  the  basis  of  which  is  the 
black   or   Devonian   slate,  may   be   seen  a 
scattered  and  picturesque  group  of  slate-clay 
pyramids,  or  rude,  truncated  cones,  rising 
from  one  to  two  hundred  feet  in  height.    At 
a  less  distance  to   the  east,  is   the   gorge 
through   which    Dick's    Eiver    precipitates 
itself  into   the   Kentucky.     Lastly,  at  the 
distance  of  eight  or  ten  miles  to  the  north, 
the  beholder  finds  himself  on  the  verge  of  a 
chasm,  as  deep,  and  dark,  and  wild,  as  that 
of  Niagara  below  the  Falls.  In  this  profound 
ravine,  with  walls  of  the   oldest  transition 
marble,  and  a  garniture  of  mingled  ever- 
green and  deciduous  forest  trees,  the  Ken- 
tucky Eiver  quietly  winds  its  way,  and,  by 
its  very  repose,  seems  to  say  that  its  work  of 
excavation  is  finished." 

There    are,    writes    Dr.    Drake,    in    the 


OLYMPIAN  SPRINGS. 


251 


At 


V^^estern  Journal,  for  1828,  other  Epsom 
springs  iu  Kentucky,  besides  those  of  Ilar- 
rodsburg;  of  which  the  only  one  that  has 
acquired  notoriety,  is  situated  ten  or  twelve 
miles  from  that  town,  and  one  from  Perry- 
ville.    It  is  named  the 

^'Rochester  Spring.— It  is  a  feeble  but  con- 
stant  stream,  that  bursts  out  about  sixty  feet 
below  the  summit  of  a  ridge  of  coarse 
grained,  shell  limestone.  From  the  experi- 
ments and  observations  which  I  have  made 
upon  this  water,  its  sensible  qualities,  com- 
position and  effects  are  so  nearly  the  same 
with  those  of  the  waters  just  described,  that 
a  detailed  account  of  them  would  be  supers 

fluous." 

The  Olympian  Springs  [or  Mud  LicJc],  con- 
tinues  this  writer,  in  the  same  journal  as  above, 
constitute  one  of  the  oldest  and  most  noted 
watering  places  of  Kentucky.  They  are 
situated  in  Bath  County,  about  fifty  miles 
east  of  Lexington,  on  the  waters  of  Licking 
Kiver,  which  unites  with  the  Ohio,  opposite 

Cincinnati. 

On  approaching  them  from  the  west,  the 
country  undergoes  a  change  in  its  topogra- 
phy, geology,  and  botany.     The  gentle  slopes 


mn 


M 


3  : 


■I! 

■,:l    I 


I 


I 


f     i 


252      MINERAL  AND  THERMAL  SPRINGS. 

that  give  such  beauty  to  the  basin  of  Elk- 
horn,  and   the  ** country  round   about,"  of 
which  Lexington  is  the  metropolis,  are  suc- 
ceeded by  high  and  steep  hills,  the  summits 
of  which  are  narrow  and  serpentine.    This 
is  the  commencement  of  the  broken  country, 
which,  becoming  more  and  more  Alpine  as 
we  advance  to  the  east,  at  last  terminates  in 
the  Alleghany  Mountains.  With  this  change 
of  aspect,  there  is  a  corresponding  change  of 
structure.      The   first  shows  itself,   on  ap- 
proaching Slate  Creek,  between  Mountster- 
ling  and  the  springs,  where  we  observe  strata 
and  beds  of  arenaceous  limestone,  alternating 
with  the  blue,  shell  limestone  just  passed 
over,  and  presenting  organic  remains  of  a 
different  kind. 

Two  miles  from  the  springs  is  a  detached 
and  somewhat  conical  summit,  that  has  re- 
ceived the  name  of  Olympus.  It  may  be  re- 
garded as  a  specimen  of  the  region  adjoining, 
and  still  further  east.  The  road  to  Beaver 
Creek  Iron  Works  passes  near  the  base  of 
Olympus,  ard  at  length  the  observer,  ascend- 
ing from  t!i(  valley,  finds  himself  at  an  ele- 
vation of  six  or  eight  hundred  feet,  and  sees 


s. 

of  Elk- 

)Ut,"    of 

are  sue- 
ummits 
I.  This 
country, 
pine  as 
lates  in 
chan 


OLYMPIAN  SPRINGS. 


253 


o-ft 


lange  of 
on  ap- 
untster- 
7G  strata 
jrnating 
;  passed 
ins  of  a 

ietacliecl 

has  re- 

y  be  re- 

Ijoining, 

Beaver 

)  base  of 

ascend- 

;  an  ele- 

and  sees 


around  liim  nothing  but  deep  and  angular 
valleys,  mural  precipices,  and  rocky  summits, 
^YLich  resemble  ruined  fortresses  and  towers. 
There  are  several  springs  and  wells,  which 
present  such  differences  in  their  composition, 
that  of  all  the  watering  places  of  the  west, 
this  is  supposed  to  afford  the  greatest  va- 
riety.   Dr.  Drake  says,  further  :— 

«' I  could  not  myself  detect  more  than  three 
kinds— a  salt  and  sidj^hur,  a  ivMte  sulphur, 
and  a  chalyheate. 

« 1.  The  Salt  and  Sulphur  water  is  pumped 
up  from  a  shallow  well,  near  the  margin  of 
the  brook.    The  temperature  of  the  water  as 
its  issues  from  the  pump  is  58°  of  F.    Its 
taste  is  that  of  a  weak  brine,  moderately 
charged  with  sulphuretted  hydrogen.     Com- 
pared  with  the  greater  number  of  salines  in 
the  western  country,  the  quantity  of  com- 
mon salt  which  it  contains  is  small,  and  the 
sulphuretted  hydrogen  is  too  little  to  escape 
from  the  surface  in  bubbles.     When  the 
neighboring  stream  is  swollen,  its  waters  find 
their  way  into  the  well,  which  then  affords  a 
more  dilute  solution.    It  was  in  this  state 
when  my  observations  were  made. 


S3 


254      MINERAL  AND  THERMAL  SPRINGS. 


a 


U    ^-Mi 


3  sir 


Subjected  to  the  action  of  a  variety  of  re- 
agents, it  afforded  the  following  results; 
which,  however,  I  do  not  state  with  confi- 
dence in  their  accuracy. 

"1.  Sulphuretted  hydrogen. 

"  2.  Muriate  of  soda,  or  common  salt,  and 
perhaps  a  little  muriate  of  lime. 

"  3.  Carbonate  of  soda. 

"  I  could  detect  no  sulphuric  acid,  and,  con- 
sequently, it  contains  no  Epsom  salts;  and  if 
either  lime  or  magnesia  be  present,  the  quan- 
tity is  exceedingly  small. 

"2.  The  Wh'.te  Sulphur  Spring  is  situated 
half  a  mile  from  the  well.  It  bursts  out 
from  a  bank  of  shale,  a  short  way  up 
the  side  of  a  hill.  Mr.  Bankes,  of  Mount- 
sterling,  assured  me  that  this  spring  made 
its  first  appearance  during  the  earthquakes 
of  1811.  Its  temperature  is  59°.  Its  com- 
position is  substantially  the  same  with  that 
of  the  well  just  described,  but  the  ingre- 
dients of  the  two  springs  vary  in  their  pro- 
portions. In  the  Sulphur  Spring,  the  quantity 
of  that  substance  is  so  great  as  to  be  depo- 
sited in  the  form  of  a  whitish  sediment,  upon 
the  leaves  and  twigs  which  the  water  flows 


jrSi 


OLYMPIAN  SPRINGS. 


255 


ity  of  re- 
results ; 
h.  confi- 


salt,  and 


md,  con- 
3;  and  if 
he  quan- 


situated 
rsts  out 
way  up 
'  Mount- 
ag  made 
-hquakes 
Its  corn- 
nth  that 
e  ingre- 
leir  pro- 
quantity 
be  depo- 
mt,  upon 
ber  flows 


over.    Silver  is  more  speedily  tarnished  than 
in  the  well,  and  the  proportion  of  sulphuret- 
ted hydrogen  is  sufficient  to  rise  in  bubbles  to 
the  surface,  but  still  is  much  less  than  in 
many  other  springs  in  Kentucky.     On  the 
other  hand,  the  spring  has  but  a  weak  im- 
pregnation  of    muriate  of  soda,   compared 
with  the  well.    The  proportion  of  carbonate 
of  soda  seemed  to  be  nearly  the  same  in  both. 
I  could  not  detect  in  it  either  sulphuric  acid 
or  magnesia.    The  existence  of   iodine  in 
sulphuretted  waters,  not  having  at  the  time 
of  my  visit  been  made  known,  I  did  not,  of 
course,  examine  for  them. 

/'3.  The  Chalybeate  Springs.    These  are 
two  in  number,  and  are  situated  about  forty 
yards  apart,  and  half  a  mile  from  the  salt  and 
sulphur  well.    They  burst  out  from  between 
strata  of  arenaceous  limestone,  near  the  bank 
of  a  stream,  which  a  rnile  below  mingles  its 
waters  with  those  of  the  brook  already  de- 
scribed.   Their  temperature,  as   the   water 
issues  from  the  rock  in  lively  currents,  is 
52°  F.    They   deposit   a  reddish  sediment. 
From  a  variety  of  experiments  on  the  water 
of  the  lower  of  these  springs,  I  was  satisfied 


iM 


'.  I 


ih 


(1 


(••'1 


i  I 


I     I 


i 


256      MINERAL  AND  THERMAL  SPRINGS. 

tliat  it  contains  nothing  but  the  carbonate  of 
iron,  with  the  proportion  of  muriates  and 
carbonates,  which  our  common  springs  afford. 
I  observed  the  bottles  in  which  it  was  car- 
ried to  the  lodges  of  invalids,  to  be  incrust- 
ed  with  the  red  oxide  of  iron,  from  the 
decomposition  of  the  carbonate  of  that  metal, 
and  the  escape  of  the  carbonic  acid,  by  the 
agitation.  Thus  many  who  thought  them- 
selves in  the  use  of  an  efficient  chalybeate, 
were  drinking  a  water  which  contained  little 
else  than  what  exists  in  ordinary  springs. 

"  Besides  the  fountains,  which  I  have  de- 
scribed, there  is  another—a  feeble  vein—near 
the  principal  well,  and  called  the  Vitriol 
Spring,  It  seemed  to  contain  muriates  and 
carbonates  only,  and  these  in  such  moderate 
quantities,  that  it  is  used  for  culinary  pur- 
poses, although  spoken  of  as  medicinal.  I 
could  not  discover  in  it  either  sulphur,  mag- 
nesia, or  sulphuric  acid. 

"  The  following  are  the  principal  observa- 
tions which  I  made  on  the  spot. 

"  The  salt  and  sulphur  water  was  chiefly 
drunk.  From  one  to  eight  tumblerfuls  were 
taken  in  the  morning.    It  lay  light  on  the 


i% 


5. 


OLYMPIAN  SPRINGS. 


257 


nate  of 
es  and 
afford, 
ras  car- 
ncrust- 
)m  tlie 
:  metal, 
by  the 
:  them- 
jbeate, 
3(1  little 
ngs. 
lave  de- 
1 — near 
Vitriol 
tes.  and 
Loderate 
try  pur- 
inal.    I 
ir,  niag- 

)bserva- 

1  chiefly 

uls  were 

on  tlie 


stomacb.    Its  diuretic  elTcct  was  prompt  and 
certain.     Its   action   on  the  bowels  was,  in 
most  cases,  so  inconsiderable,  tbat  common 
salt  was  added  to  increase  its  aperient  quali- 
ties ;  and  many  persons  found  it  necessary, 
besides,  to  dissolve  in  it  a  portion  of  Epsom 
salt.    To  some  dyspeptic  stomachs  it  was  op- 
pressive, even  in  small  quantities,  and  in  one 
delicate  female  1  saw  it  produce  a  tendency 
to  syncope.    In  many  persons  it  produced 
abdommal  distension,  and  a  few  thought  it 
the  cause  of  more  obstinate    constipation, 
which  arose,  perhaps,  from  its  great  determi- 
nation to  the  kidneys. 

"  During  my  week's  residence  at  the  springs, 
I  saw  no  invalids  in  a  rapid  state  of  recovery, 
nor  heard  any  speak  with  applause  of  the 
beneficial  effects  of  the  water  upon  them.  ^  It 
is  certain,  however,  that  many  interesting 
cures  have  been  effected  by  it,  although  it  is 
less  powerful  than  some  other  springs  of  the 

same  kind." 

Dr.  Peter  enumerates  six  different  springs 
of  the  Olympian  group,  of  which  three  con- 
tain sulphuretted  hydrogen,  two  are  saline 

9,9* 


li 


258      MINERAL  AND  THERMAL  SPRINGS. 

cbalybeates,  and  one  is  acidulous.  If  we 
except  one  of  the  second  class,  called  the 
Epsom  Spring,  their  saline  constituents,  al- 
though diversified  in  number,  are,  in  amount, 
inconsiderable.  Of  the  other  five,  the  White 
Sulphur  or  Tea  Spring  vnter  has  the  weak- 
est, and  the  Black  Sulphur  the  strongest,  sa- 
line impregnation. 

The  completion  of  the  railroad  from  Lex- 
ington to  Big  Sandy  Kiver  will  contribute 
to  make  those  springs,  once  more,  a  place  of 
general  and  fashionable  resort;  additionally 
attractive  as  it  is,  by  "the  novel  objects  and 
romantic  scenery  which  it  presents." 

Blue  Licks.— At  this  watering'  place,  Dr. 
Drake  tells  ns,  there  are  several  fountams,  all, 
however,  of  one  kind,  the  sulphureous  sahne. 
They  are  found  on  either  bank  of  Licking 
Kiver,  twenty-four  miles  from  the  Ohio,  and 
at  the  intersection  of  the  former  by  the  high 
road  that  leads  from  Maysville  to  Lexington. 
From  the  first  settlement  of  th  State,  till 
within  the  last  fifteen  years,  salt  was  manu- 
factured at  this  place.  The  manufacture  was 
rendered  unprofitable  by  the  increasing 
scarcity  of  fuel,  and  by  the  discovery  of 


BLUE  LICK  SPRINGS. 


259 


stronger  wat«r  in   Western  Yirginia    and 
Pennsylvania. 

Lower  Blue  Lich  Spring.— Tn  all  that  re- 
lates to  the  geology  ^^  the  region  in  which 
this  spring  is  found,  and  to  the  analysis  of 
its  water,  I  avail  myself  of  the  information 
kindly  furnished  by  Professor  Peter  of  the 
Kentucky  School  of  Medicine. 

The    geological  formation  in    which   the 
Blue  Lick  Springs  are  located,  is  the  same 
as  that  which  underlies  Cincinnati  and  the 
central  fertile  region  of  Kentucky,  called 
by  the  western  geologists  the   great  Blue 
Limestone  formation.    It  is  a  lower  member 
of  the  so-called  Silurian  System  of  Murchi- 
son.    It  is  a  formation  of  great  thickness  in 
the  west,  composed  of  limestone  layers^  of 
greater  or  less  thickness,  hardness  and  purity, 
with  beds  of  bluish  marly  clay  presenting 
sometimes  a  shaly   structure;    all  rich  in 
the  fossilized  remains  of  inhabitants  of  the 
deep  primeval  ocean  under  which  they  were 
evidently  deposited. 

"The  well  known  Big  Bone  Lick  of  Ken- 
tuc^:y  is  seated  on  this  same  rock  formation, 
and  the  composition   of  the  water  of  the 


260      MINEKAL  AND  THERMAL  SPRINGS. 


''1 


:■  i; 


spring  in  that  locality  appears,  by  all  ac- 
counts, to  be  nearly  analogous  to  that  of  the 
Blue  Licks ;  it  being  a  saline  sulphur  spring 
like  the  latter.  Indeed,  the  Blue  Limestone 
is  very  generally  known  as  a  saliferous  for- 
mation :  which  is  doubtless  to  be  referred  to 
its  submarine  origin.  Numerous  springs  of 
salt  water  have  been  found  on  it,  and  many 
salt  wells,  some  containing  sulphuretted  hy- 
drogen, have  been  obtained  in  it  by  boring. 

"At  the  Blue  Licks,  beside  the  main  spring, 
there  are  a  number  of  minor  ones,  on  the 
two  sides  of  the  Licking  River  and  in  its  bed, 
the  water  of  some  of  which  has  been  exa- 
mined by  the  author,  and  found  to  be  very 
much  like  that  of  the  principal  spring  in  com- 
position. Johnson's  Well,  in  Scott  County, 
Ky.,  also  presents  a  composition  somewhat 
analogous  to  that  of  the  Blue  Lick  water, 
but  it  is  much  weaker,  and  it  contains  more 
magnesian  salts. 

"While  the  water  of  the  superficial  wells 
and  springs,  on  this  formation,  are  generally 
what  is  denominated  hard  or  limestone  ivater^ 
containing  bicarbonates  of  lime  and  mag- 
nesia, with  a  little  iron,  and  some  phosphate 


IM 


HB-wg»gw^0;-^^gA; 


s. 

all  ac- 
i  of  tlie 
r  spring 
nestone 
Dus  for- 
jrred  to 
rings  of 
i  many 
ted  by- 
borins:. 
I  spring, 
on  the 
L  its  bed, 
len  exa- 
be  very 
in  corn- 
County, 
>me\vbat 
£  water, 
ns  more 

ial  wells 
•enerally 
ne  ivateVy 
id  mag- 
bospbate 


ARTE5IAK  SULPHUR  WELLS,  261 

of  lime,  beld  in  solution  by  carbonic  acid ; 
tbese  salt  wells,  or  "  licks,"  so  called,  contain 
cblorides  of  sodium  and  potassium,  chlorides 
of  calcium  and   magnesium,   sulpbate   and 
carbonate  of  lime,  &a,  and  are  frequently 
impregnated,  to  a  greater  or  less  degree,  witli 
sulpburetted  hydrogen.    Saline  water  of  this 
character,  as  above  intimated,  has  been  fre- 
quently obtained  in   the    Blue  Limestone 
formation  by  boring.    For  example,  in  the 
little  town  of  Keene,  in  Jessamine  County, 
Ky.,  a  water  was  obtained  in  this  manner, 
in  1848,  by  Mr.  Wm.  R.  Dean,  which  \i  a 
very  good  salt  sulphur  water,  and  has  been 
considerably  employed  for  its  medicinal  pro- 
perties.   It  contains  sulphuretted  hydrogen 
and  carbonic  acid  gases;    bicarbonates   of 
lime  and  magnesia,  with  a  trace  of  bicarbon- 
ate of  soda ;    chlorides  of   sodium,  calcium, 
magnesium,  and  doubtless  of  potassium,  with 
a  trace  of  iron ;   but  this  is  much  weaker 
than  the  Blue  Lick  water  containing  only 
16  grains  of  saline  in  the  1000   grains  of 
the  water ;  being  only  about  one-sixth  the 
strength  of  the  former.     In  a  later  testing, 
in  May,  1850,  it  was  found  to  be  yet  weaker, 


% 


262      MINEKAL  AXD  THERMAL  SPRINGS. 


probably  because  of  the  then  extremely  wet 
season.  This  water  has  not  been  fully  ana- 
lyzed to  detect  the  presence  of  iodine  and 

bromine. 

"In  Scott  County,  of  this  State,  in  a  well 
bored  to  the  depth  of  176  feet  in  this  lime- 
stone, Mr.  W.  Roszell  obtained  a  water  which 
contains  a  notable  proportion  of  chlorides 
of  sodium,  calcium  and  magnesium,  &c.  &c., 
and  smells  strongly  of  sulphuretted  hydro- 
gen.    The  water  of  another  bored  well,  105 
feet  deep,  obtained  in  1848  by  Major  B.  Rob- 
erts, in  Harrison  County,  also  on  the  Blue 
Limestone  formation,  has  a  very  slight  bitu- 
minous or  sulphureous  odor,  but  contains 
as  much  as  sixteen  parts  in  the  thousand 
of  saline   matters,   principally   chloride   of 
sodium,  with  chlorides  of  potassium,  calcium 
and   magnesium;    sulphate  of  lime;    bicar- 
bonates  of  lime,  magnesia  and  iron,  and  a 
trace  of  iodine.     This  is  rather  stronger  •  in 
salts  than  the  Blue  Lick  water,  and  differs 
from  it  also  in  its  deficiency  of  sulphuretted 
hydrogen,  but  in  other  respects  they  resemble 
each  other  very  much  in  composition. 
"Another  well,  81  1-2  feet  deep,  w^as  made 


k:,Jt^ 


ARTESIAN  SULPHUR  WELLS. 


263 


ily  wet 
ly  ana- 
ne  and 

.  a  well 
is  lime- 
T  which 
lilorides 
&c.  &c., 

hydro- 
ell,  105 
B.  Rob- 
lie  Blue 
;ht  bitu- 
contains 
housand 
)ride   of 

calcium 

;    bicar- 

1,  and  a 

d  differs 

iliuretted 

resemble 

n. 

{as  made 


by  boring,  in  Scott  County,  near  George- 
town, on  the  property  of  Mr.  R.  Ford,  the 
water  of  which  contains  as  much  as  4  per 
cent,  of  saline  matter,  principally  common 
salt,  with  sulphates  of  lime  and  potash,  chlo- 
rides of  calcium  and   magnesium,   &c.  &c. 
Some  of  the  wells  in  Lexington   yield  a 
water  smelling  slightly  of  sulphuretted  hy- 
drogen,  and  while  penning  these  remarks,  a 
bottle  of  water  was  brought  to  me  from  a 
boring  in  progress,  forty-five  feet  deep,  in 
this  city,  which  is  a  weak  sulphur  water .-^^ 
"  Saline  and  saline-sulphur  w^aters,  therefore, 

*  Associated  -with  the  water  thus  obtained  by  boring, 
in  our  Blue  Limestone,  is  sometimes  found  a  large  quan- 
tity of  liglit  carburetted  hydrogen  gas.  One  remarkable 
instance  occurred  in  Franklin  County,  at  the  mV  of  the 
Messrs.  Steadman,  where,  as  I  am  informed,  th'-  gas,  in 
large  quantities  is  poured  out  from  thebor  ,..  'he  stream 
lasting  for  some  time,  and  perhaps  existin-  at  the  present 
moment.  The  origin  of  this  gas  in  the  coal  formations, 
where  it  is  more  abundant  is,  doubtless,  fr.  .u  the  vegeta- 
ble matters  which  formed  the  coal,  but  in  this  formation 
it  is  a  puzzle  to  geologists,  [Quite  an  active  saline  cha- 
lybeate water,  containing  some  brcrcide  of  magnesium, 
and  evolving  free  carbonic  acid,  has  been  found,  by  bor- 
ing, in  the  cellar  of  Mr.  John  S.  Wilson,  druggist,  Lex- 
ington.] 


m  ! 


m 


26i     MINERAL  AND  THERMAL  SPRINGS. 

are  quite  frequent,  comparatively,  in  our 
Blue  Limestone  strata,  but  amongst  all  the 
springs  of  tliis  nature,  known  at  present  on 
tliis  formation,  in  Kentucky,  none  are  as 
valuable,  and  as  remarkable,  in  many  re- 
spects, as  those  of  the  Lower  Blue  Licks. 

"  The  principal  spring  of  this  locality,  from 
which  the  water  submitted  to  analysis  \vas 
taken,  is  situated  near  the  banks  of  the  Lick     | 
ing    Kiver,  flowing  out  about  twenty  feet 
above  low  water  in  that  stream.    It  rises  in 
a  hexagonal  basin  of  stone,  which  has  been 
built  for  it,  which  is  six  feet  two  inches  in 
diameter,  from  one  side  to  the  opposite  paral- 
lel one,  and  about  five  or  six  feet  in  depth. 
The    quantity   of   water  which    flows   out 
varies  in  different  seasons.    Wnen  the  water 
for  the  present  examination  was  obtained, 
June  6,  1850,  it  was  low  in  the  spring,  and 
not  running.    The  water  in  this  basin  was 
lowered  about  one  foot  by   pumping  out 
fei'^venty-six  barrels^  in  the  course  of  three 
hours;  and  in  the  winter  time  the  stream 

*  These  barrels  vrill  not  contain  [each]   more  than 
thirty  gallons. 


GS. 

in  our 
b  all  the 
'esent  on 
i  are  as 
many  re- 
Licks, 
lity,  from 
lysis  was 
tlie  Lick 
enty  feet 
t  rises  in 
has  been 
inches  in 
site  paral- 

in  depth, 
lows  out 
the  water 

obtained, 
-)ring,  and 
basin  was 
iping  out 
e  of  three 
he  stream 

]   more  than 


BLUE  LICK  SPRING. 


265 


which  flows  out  from  it  would  probably  fill 
:!  pipe  three  inches  in  diameter." 


"  In  six  observations,  at  different  times,  on 
June  4th  and  5th,  the  external  air  varying 
from  60°  to  76°  F.,  the  temperature  of  the 
water  stood  very  constantly  at  62°.    This  is 
about  seven  degrees  above  the  mean  tempe- 
rature of  this  region,  which  is  about  55° ; 
and  it  is  probable  that  the  temperature  of 
the  water  in  the  basin  had  been  somewhat 
raised  by  the  external  heat  of  the  atmosphere. 
When  flowing  rapidly,  it  may,  perhaps,  be 
found  to  approximate  more  nearly  to  the 
mean  annual  temperature. 

"  The  mass  of  water  in  the  spring  presents 
a  light  yellowish-green  color,  partly  owing, 
perhaps,  to  the  reflection  from  the  yellowish- 
gray  sediment,  for  when  it  is  taken  up  in  a 
clear  vessel,  it  appears  perfectly  colorless, 
and  beautifully  transparent.     On   standing 
exposed  to  the  air,  however,  it  becomes  of  a 
yellowish--reen  color,  very  perceptible  in  a 
white  pitcher,  or  even  in  a  white  glass  bottle. 
This  color  deepens  on  boiling  the  water,  but 
boihng  does  not  cause  it  to  appear  in  the  re- 
cent water.     This  color,  to  which  the  spring 
23 


i 


'",if '•.%!:  •■ 


266      MINERAL  AND  THERMAL  SPRINGS. 

probably  owes  its  name  of  Blue  Licks,  is 
due  to  the  decomposition  of  some  of  tlie  dis- 
solved ingredients.     On  exposure  to  the  air, 
the  hydrogen  of  the  sulphuretted  hydrogen, 
becomes    converted    into    water    by    com- 
bining with  oxygen  from  the  atmosphere, 
while  the  sulphur,  with  the  trace  of  iron,  &c., 
is  deposited  as  a  light  yellowish  green  pre- 
cipitate, at  the  same  time,  in  consequence  of 
the  escape  of  some  of  the  free  carbonic  acid, 
carbonate  of  lime  is  thrown   down,  whicli 
mixes  with  the   sulphur  precipitate.    Tlie 
minute  portion  of  iron  which  exists  in  the 
recent  water,  probably  as  carbonate  of  the 
protoxide,  losing  its  carbonic  acid  and  oxy- 
.  gen,  becomes  a  sulphuret,  by  taking  some  of 
the  sulphur  of  the  decomposed  sulphtiretted 
hydrogen,  and  gives  the  greenish  tinge  to 
the  water  and  its  sediment. 

"In  the  water  which  has  been  bottled,  or 
brought  in  barrels  from  the  spring,  this 
change  of  color  and  consequent  deposition 
occurs  a  few  hours  after  it  has  been  bronglit 
in  contact  with  the  air,  by  uncorking  and 
withdrawing  a  portion  out  of  the  vessel.  It 
changes,  in   a  marked   manner,   in  flavor, 


^ 


XGS. 

Licks,  is 
of  tlie  dis- 
to  the  air, 
hydrogen, 

by    com- 
tmosphere, 
)f  iron,  &c., 
green  pre- 
equence  of 
bonic  acid, 
'Wn,  whicli 
itate.    Tlie 
:ists  in  the 
late  of  the 
d  and  oxy- 
ng  some  of 
.ilphtiretted 
sb  tinge  to 

.  bottled,  or  , 
ipring,  this 
deposition 
sen  brought 
lorking  and 
)  vessel.  It 
,   in  flavor, 


BLUE  LICK  SPRING. 


26" 


owino-  to  the  decomposition  of  the  sulphu- 
retted hydrogen ;  and  after  a  few  days'  ex- 
posure, loses  ail  smell  and  taste  of  this  gas, 
as  might  be  expected  from  its  decomposible 
Bature.    To  preserve  its  virtues  in  exporta- 
tion, therefore,  it  should  be  bottled  like  a 
sparkling  wine,  and  used  as  soon  as  it  is 
opened.    In  this  manner,  if  but  little  air  be 
left  in  the  neck  of  the  bottle,  and  the  cork  is 
very  tight  and  secured  by  sealing  wax,  it 
may  be  preserved,  unchanged,  for  a  consider- 
able time.     In  the   spring  and  its  channel 
this  decomposition  and  escape  of  gas  contin- 
ually take  place,  causing  the  formation  of 
sediment.    Less  decomposition  would  prob- 
ably take  place  in  the  spring,  were  its  basin 
smaller,  so  that  the  water  would  be  more 
rapidly  renewed,  and  it  would  expose  less 
surface  to  the  air. 

"Some  of  the  sediment  collected  from  the 
bottom  of  the  spring,  was  found  by  analysis 
to  contain  the  following  ingredients,  viz:— 
Sand,  in  considerable  proportion. 
Carbonates  of  lime  and  magnesia. 
Sulphur. 
Oxide  and  sulphuret  of  iron. 


iir 


m  ' 


1^ 

ii 


1' 


268      MINERAL  AND  THERMAL  SPRINGS. 

Alumina. 

A  trace  of  oxide  of  manganese. 
Apocrenio  acid. 
A  trace  of  crenic  acid. 
"All  these  ingredients,  except  the  sand, 
which  is  probably  brought  out  mechanically 
suspended,  were,  doubtless,  dissolved  in  the 
recent  water,  and  were  deposited  on  its  ex- 
posure to  the  air. 

"In  addition  to  the  gases,  sulphuretted  hy- 
drogen  and  cai.bonic  acid,  which  are  thus 
gradually  decomposed  in  the  water,  or  which 
escape  insensibly  from  its  surface,  streams  of 
bubbles  of  gas  are  continually  rising  through 
the  spring,  and  breaking  into  the  atmo- 
sphere. 

"  Some  of  this  gas,  carefully  collected  for 
me  by  Major  Owen,  in  bottles  prepared  for 
the  purpose,  was  submitted  to  analyses,  and 
found  to  consist  mainly  of  nitrogen,  mixed 
with  about  4.5  per  cent,  of  carbonic  acid  gas, 
and  only  a  trace  of  sulphuretted  hydrogen." 
The  composition  of  the  Blue  Lick  water, 
according  to  this  analysis,  is  as  follows;  cal- 
culated both  in  1000  grains  of  the  water  and 
in  the  wine  pint  of  7,680  grains,  viz:— 


<  H 

1 

'      ■                    '■                   \ 

1 

i 

i   a,  H 

h.  '■, 

ANALYSIS  OF  BLUE  LICK  WATER. 


269 


H 

>» 


the  sand, 
chanically 
''ed  in  the 
on  its  ex- 

iretted  hy- 
1  are  thus 
r,  or  wbicli 
streams  of 
ig  througli 
the   atmo- 

)llected  for 
'epared  for 
alyses,  and 
gen,  mixed 
ic  acid  gas, 
hydrogen." 
Liick  water, 
dIIows;  cal- 
3  water  and 
viz  :— 


Gases  in  1000  grains:— 

Specific  gravity 


1.007. 


Grains. 


In  tlie  wine  pint. 
Cubic  In.    Grains.     Cubic  In. 


Sulphuretted  hyd.  gas    0.0394     0.1086    0.3031     0.8340 

Free  carb.  acid  gas        0.3547       .0776    2.7240     5.8368 

The  former  is  in  the  proportion  of  about  1.36th,  the 

volume  of  the  water,  and  the  latter  about  1.5th  the  vol- 


ume. 


Saline  contents  in  1000  grains  :— 


Carbonate  of  lime 
Carbonate  of  magnesia 
Alumina,   phosphate   of 

lime,  and  ox.  iron 
Chloride  of  sodium 
Chloride  of  potassium 
Chloride  of  magnesium 
Bromide  of  magnesium 
Iodide  of  mag;\esium 
Sulphate  of  lime 
Sulphate  of  potash 
Silicic  acid 
Loss 


Grains. 

0.3850000 
0.0022065 

0.0058330 

8.3472930 

0.0226690 

0.5272000 

0.0009394 

0.0007340 

0.5533300 

0.1519190 

0.0079400 

0.2819861 


In  the  wine  pint. 
Grains. 

2.9568000 
.0169459 

0.0447974 
64.1072102 
0.1740979 
4.0488960 
0.0302546 
0.0056371 
4.2495744 
1.1166738 
0.1377792 
2.2158335 


10.3000000    79.1040000 

The  water  also  contains  traces  of  oxide  of 
manganese,  and  apocrenic  and  crenic  acids. 
The  solid  contents  of  the  Blue  Lick  water 

23* 


H  ^il 


;   ■■I 


270      MINERAL  AND  THERMAL  SPRINGS. 

are  to  those  of  the  Wbite  Sulphur,  as  rather 
more  than  9  to  2.    In  the  former  are  U 
grains  of  chloride  of  sodium  or  common  salt 
to  the  pint ;  in  the  latter  but  a  small  fraction. 
The  first  contains  but  3J  grains  of  sulphate 
of  lime,  that  inert  salt,  if  not  one  of  equivocal 
benefit;  and  the  second  about  10  grains  ot 
the  same.    The  White  Sulphur  holds  in  so- 
lution,  however,  sulphates  of  magnesia  and 
soda,  both  of  which  are  wanting  in  the  Blue 
Lick;  while  in  its  turn  the  latter  has  chlo- 
ride of  potassium  and  sulphate  of  potash  and 
bromide  of  magnesium,  which  are  not  in  the 
former.    The  quantity  of  sulphuretted  hy- 
drogen in  the  Blue  Lick  is  double  that  in  the 
White  Sulphur,  even  if  we  assume  Dr.  Ko- 
o-er's  more  favorable  analysis  as  the  stand- 
ard.   Iodide  of  magnesium  is  found  in  both. 
The  medicinal  virtues  of  the  Blue  Lick 
water  are  those  of  a  saline  sulphur,  and  ana- 
logous to,  but  more  active  than  the  Olym- 
pian Spring  water.    It  acts  freely  as  a  diu- 
retic ;  but  only  on  occasions  as  a  purgative. 
It  may  be  used  with  advantage  in  nearly  all 
the  chronic  diseases  in  which  the  sulphur 


■  iiBL 


ESTILL  SPRINGS. 


271 


as  rather 
ir  are  64 
(imon  salt 
1  fraction. 
'  sulphate 
equivocal 

grains  ot 
)lds  in  so- 
nesia  and 
1  the  Blue 

has  chlo- 
)otasli  and 
not  in  the 
retted  hy- 
that  in  the 
le  Dr.  Ko- 
the  stand- 
id  in  both. 
Blue  Lick 
r,  and  ana- 
the  Olym- 
r  as  a  diu- 

purgative. 
1  nearly  all 
tie  sulphur 


waters  already  described  have  been  pre- 
scribed, especially  in  chronic  rheumatism  and 
cutaneous  diseases ;  and  in  atonic  dyspepsia 
and  obstructed  and  painful  menstruation. 
The  use  of  the  water  as  a  bath  is  properly 
conjoined  with  its  internal  use. 

The  Blue  Lick  water  is  brought  on  to 
Philadelphia,  and  used  by  many  persons  with 
decided  benefit. 

One  drawback  to  visiting  the  Blue  Lick 
Springs  is  thus  mentioned  by  Dr.  Drake^  in 
the  fir°st  volume  of  his  great  work  (p.  25G). 
"In  former  times,  when  salt  was  manufac- 
tured here  by  furnace  heat,  autumnal  fever 
seems  to  have  prevailed  but  little.    Latterly, 
however,  the  sluggish  water  which  winds 
round    the   spring  generates  intermittents, 
which,  nevertheless,  do  not  become  prevalent 
until  the  latter  part  of  the  summer,  when 
watering-places  are  not  much  frequented." 

Estill  Springs.—l  am  again  indebted  to  the 
kindness  of  Dr.  Peter  for  the  following  notice 
of  these  springs :—  _ 

"  Of  the  waters  of  the  '  Estill  Sprmg  (Es- 
till Co.,  Ky.),  I  have  tested  two  varieties  sent 
to  me  in  bottles,  viz:— 


^  -\H' 


EMAGE  EVALUATION 
TEST  TARGET  (MT-3) 


&< 


'Q.r 


V.A 


1.0 


ilM 

12.2 


I.I 


1.8 


111.25      1.4 

1.6 

^ 6"     — 

► 

t    • 


riiuUJgicipiiiL 

^Sciences 
Corporation 


s. 


,\ 


^> 


V 


^9) 


V 


cF 


\\ 


^.  <i 


o"^ 


33  WEST  MAIN  STREET 

WEBSTER,  N.Y.  14580 

{7i6)  872-4503 


f|i 


'A  I 


iJh 


II 


1    I 


272      MINERAL  AND  THERMAL  SPRINGS. 

White  Sulphur. 

Specific  gravity,  1.001.     (Sept.  1849.) 
Saline  contents,  0.09  per  cent. 
Contains — 

Carbonic  acid  and  sulphuretted  hydrogen  gases. 

Carbonates  of  soda,  lime,  magnesia,  and  trace  of 
carbonate  of  iron. 

Sulphates  of  lime,  magnesia,  and  soda. 

Chloride  of  sodium  in  small  amount. 

Hydrosulphate  of  soda  ? 

Med  Sulphur. 
Specific  gravity,  1.0002. 
Saline  contents,  0.04  per  cent. 
Contains — 

Carbonic  acid  and  sulphuretted  hydrogen  gases. 

Carbonat'is  of  soda,  lime,  magnesia,  and  trace  of 
carbonates  of  iron. 

Sulphates  of  soda,  lime,  and  magnesia. 

Chlorides  of  sodium,  calcium^  and  magnesium. 

Hydrosulphate  of  soda? 

"A  Similarity  in  composition  appears  in 
the  qualitative  testing,  but  the  quantity  and 
2)roportion  ^f  the  ingredients  differ  consider- 
ably—a fact  only  to  be  fully  demonstrated 
by  a  complete  quantitative  analysis. 

"There  are  other  waters  at  the  Estill 
Springs,  and  they  arc  quite  popular;  but  I 
have  never  examined  any  but  those  named 
above." 


YELLOW  SPRING. 


273 


In  Ohio,  Doctor  Drake  says  tlie  mineral 
springs  are  numerous,  but  he  adds  the  quali- 
fy ing""  remark,  that  they  are  not  greatly  di- 
versmed  in  their  properties,  nor  copious  in 
the  supplies  which  they  afford.  The  most 
common  mineral  waters  of  the  State  are,  he 
tells  us,  chalybeate.  Of  these  he  describes 
but  one,  "  as  the  only  watering  place  of  no- 
toriety  in  Ohio."     This  is 

The    Yellow   Spring.— It    is   situated    in 
Greene  County,  sixty-four   miles  north   of 
Cincinnati,  and  two  miles  west  of  the  Little 
Miami  Eiver,  on  the  Cincinnati  and   San- 
dusky Kailroad.    "  It  is  a  copious  and  con- 
stant fountain,  that  issues  between  strata  of 
arenaceous  limestone,  and  thus  has  geological 
characters  perfectly  identical  with  the  chaly- 
beate springs  of   the  Olympian  valley   in 
Kentucky."    The  temperature  of  the  water 
is  52°  F.,  precisely  that  of  the  other  springs 
in  the  neighborhood.     The  water  is  transpa- 
rent, emits  no  bubbles,  and  has  a  slight  chaly- 
beate taste;   but  this  does  not  prevent  its 
being  used  for  a  variety  of  domestic  purposes. 
In  composition  it  resembles  all  the  other 


■i,i' 


274      MINEEAL  AND  TI  j:KMAL  SPRINGS. 

Springs  of  a  limestone  country,  with  the  ad- 
dition of  carbonate  of  iron. 

The  water  acts  as  a  diuretic,  but  whether 
more  than  common  water  in  the  same  quan- 
tity is  questionable.  As  a  laxative  its  action 
is  very  small,  if  it  can  be  considered  as  having 
this  effect  at  all  with  any  uniformity.  Dr. 
Drake,  from  whom  I  take  the  preceding  de- 
tails, says  that  its  water  is  rather  restorative 
than  curative,  and  as  such  it  is  admirable  for 
convalescents.  It  is,  if  not  the  most  potent, 
at  least  the  most  pleasant  of  tonics,  and  hence 
it  is  adapted  to  exhausted  states  of  the  sys- 
tem, following  prior  diseases  of  violence,  or 
associated  with  dyspepsia,  and  various  nerv- 
ous disorders. 

To  the  above  we  may  add,  from  the  saline 
class, 

The  Westport  Spring, — It  rises  in  the  bed 
of  Deer  Creek,  a  tributary  of  the  Scioto  Eiver, 
from  a  vast  bed  of  clay  slate,  which  for  many 
miles  forms  the  bed  of  the  creek,  and  a  cliff 
along  its  banks  twenty  feet  high. 

The  water  flows  abundantly,  so  as  to  yield 
probably  a  barrel  in  two  minutes,  and  when 
confined  in  a  wooden  tube   it  rises  to  the 


m 


ILLINOIS  SPRINGS. 


275 


height  of  eighteen  feet,  and  then  runs  over 
at  the  top.  It  contains  sulphate  of  magnesia, 
ircn  and  carbonic  acid,  which  last  gives  it  a 
sparkling  appearance  as  it  rises  from  the 
earth.  In  its  operation  it  is  moderately 
cathartic,  and  as  such  would  be  adapted  to  a 
number  of  morbid  states  not  yet  specified  in 
:'ts  records. 

In  Illinois,  some  springs  have  been  no- 
ticed by  Professor  C.  U.  Shephard,  under  the 

title  of  the 

Up'per  Illinois  Springs.— Two,  which  come 
to  the  surface  near  together  and  by  the  road- 
side, may  be  denominated  saline.  The  tem- 
perature is  apparently  above  that  of  the 
springs  in  the  vicinity,  and  certainly  supe- 
rior to  the  mean  temperature  ot  the  climate. 
They  contain  carbonic  acid  and  nitrogen 
gases,  supercarbonate  of  lime,  bicarbonate  of 
soda,  chlorides  of  sodium,  calcium  and  mag- 
nesium, and  sulphates  of  lime,  magnesia  and 

soda. 

Sulphureous  Spring.— The  spring  which 
issues  from  the  sandstone  layers  nearly  in 
the  bank  of  the  Illinois,  is  a  strong  sulphu- 


iiil 


i 


ii  ^ 


276      MINERAL  AND  THERMAL  SPRINGS. 

reous  water,  and  in  addition  to  the  above  enu- 
merated ingredients,contains  free  sulphuretted 
hydrogen,  and  hydrosulphuret  of  sodium  * 

Springs  in  the  bed  of  the  Yermilion  Eiver, 
at  Yermilionville,  are  sulphureous  in  their 
character,  and  at  the  same  time  equally  rich 
in  saline  matter  with  the  Illinois  Springs. 
It  is  difficult  to  obtain  a  supply  of  water 
from  them,  as  their  points  of  issue  are  com- 
pletely overflowed  at  high  stages  of  the  river. 

Of  the  Tennessee  Springs  I  have  not 
luch  to  say,  having  been  unsuccessful  in 
some  attempts  to  procure  information  respect- 
ing them.     I  will  begin  by  repeating  what  is 
found  in  my  first  work  on  the  subject.f 

*  This  is  the  first  announcement,  as  far  as  I  am  aware, 
of  the  presence  of  this  sulphuret  in  any  of  the  sulphur 
springs  of  the  United  States. 

f  On  Baths  and  Mineral  Waters.  To  sa^e  the  trouble 
of  inquiry  for  this  book,  I  may  as  well  say  that  it  has 
been  out  of  print  for  many  years.  Its  place  is  intended 
to  be  supplied  by  the  volume  already  published,  "Baths 
and  the  Watery  Regimen,"  and  the  present  Manual,  and, 
finally,  by  the  larger  work  already  referred  to,  but  not  yet 
finished,  on  Mineral  and  Thermal  Springs  in  all  parts  of 
the  world.  . 


Mil 
If  Wl 


white's  creek  springs. 


277 


"  Nature  has  been  exceedingly  bountiful  to 
the  western  region  in  the  abundance  and  ex- 
cellence of  its  sulphur  springs;  especially  of 
those  in  which  sulphur  and  the  muriates  of 
soda  and  lime  are  held  in  solution.  Through- 
out  the  longitudinal  range  of  Tennessee,  for 
example,  from  west  to  east,  from  Nashville 
to  the  Virginia  line,  the  traveller  must 
have  been  struck  with  the  number  of  these 
springs  which  present  themselves  in  regular 
succession  on  or  near  the  high  road. 

"  White's  CreeJc  Spring,  twelve  miles  from 
Nashville,  is  much  resorted  to.  My  stay  at 
it  was  too  short  to  enable  me  to  glean  much 
information  respecting  the  virtues  of  its  wa- 
ters from  personal  observation.  I  learned 
that  it  contained  sulphate  of  magnesia,  iron, 
and  sulphur.  The  impregnation  with  this 
last  was  very  strong,  the  taste  even  acrid. 
Experience  has  shown  that  this  wa.cr,  when 
drank,  is  best  adapted  to  diseases  of  low  ac- 
tion. In  calculous  affections  and  cutaneous 
disorders,  it  has  the  reputation  of  having 
wrought  wonderful  cures. 

''Robertson's  Springs  are  saline.     They  are 
twenty  miles  from  Nashville. 


278      MINERAL  AND  THERMAL  SPRINGS. 


In 
Id 


i''j,i  ijiiii 


"  In  East  Tennessee  especially,  inducements, 
presented  as  well  from  this  cause  as  from  the 
purity  of  the  air  and  agreeibie  variety  o^ 
scenery,  are  held  out  to  many  families  i- j.^ 
Mississippi  and  that  region  of  country,  ibi 
change  of  climate  and  travel.  Man;  avuii 
themselves  of  the  advantages  thus  oTea'eOj 
and  realize  more  completely  what  they  hoped 
for  than  if  they  had  visited  more  celebrated 
watering  places,  and  become  the  slaves  to 
fashions  and  usages,  often  irksome  by  their 
strangeness,  and  injurious  by  their  taxes  on 
personal  comfort  and  health. 

^'  Twenty  miles  east  of  Knoxville  are  Jjee^s 
Springs ;  two  sulphur  and  a  chalybeate :  the 
last  is  very  strong.  At  Rutledge  (Granger 
County),  and  at  Beane's  Station^  are  strong 
sulphur  springs." 

Dr.  Troosc,  in  his  Sixth  Eeport  of  the 
Geological  Survey  of  the  State  of  Tennessee, 
enumerates  several  mineral  springs,  all  of 
them  sulphureous;  viz:  French  Liclc^  Tyre^s^ 
Dun^Sj  White's  Creekj  Sam's  Creeh^  in  Davidson 
County ;  Winchester  and  BrowrHs^  in  Franklin 
County;  Maysfield^  in  Williamson;  Ilagerh^ 
in    Sumner ;    and    Terriis^    in    Eutherford 


WINCHESTER  SPRINGS. 


279 


cements, 
from  the 
iriety  o^ 
ies  ii  j.-^ 
.11  try,  ibi 
m;  avuii 

ey  hoped 
slebrated 
3laves  to 
by  their 
taxes  on 


are  Lee's 
sate:  the 
(Granger 
'e  strong 

t  of  the 
ennessee, 
^s,  all  of 
:7c,  Tyre^s^ 
Davidson 
Franklin 
Ilager's, 
utherford 


I 


County.  All  of  them  contain  sulphuretted 
hydrogen  and  sulphate  of  lime,  and  most  of 
them  chloride  of  sodium.  That  of  White's 
Creek  has  sulphates  of  soda  and  magnesia. 

•j.'he  quantity  of  sulphuretted  hydrogen  is 
from  6  to  13  cubic  inches  in  20  ou  jces  of 
-ivater — proportions    beyond   those   of   the 

Wii..e  Sulphur  in  Virginia,  and  the  Blue 

Lick  in  Kentucky. 
Within  a  few  minutes'  walk  of  the  city  of 

Nashville— I  speak  of  thirty  four  years  ago— 

there  is  quite  a  strong  sulphureous  spring. 

Probably  the  same  as  that  called  the  French 

Lick  Spring. 

I  have  been  favored  with  the  following  me- 
morandum from  a  young  friend  (Mr.  Dashiell) 
from  Tennessee,  who  is  now  attending  a  sum- 
mer course  of  medical  lectures  in  this  city. 

''Winchester  Springs,  four  miles  from  the 
town  of  this  name,  are  situated  upon  the 
Nashville  and  Chattanooga  Kailroad,  in 
Franklin  County,  Tennessee,  some  seventy 
miles  from  Nashville,  and  fifty  from  Chatta- 
nooga. They  are  of  considerable  celebrity, 
and  from  their  varietij  and  close  proximity 
demand  a  passing  notice.    Within  a  stone's 


i;  'a 


280      MINERAL  AND  THERMAL  SPRINGS. 

throw  we  have  four  different  springs;  red 
and  white  sulphur,  chalybeate,  and  freestone. 
They  are  all  very  large,  and  flow  in  full 
stream.  They  are  situated  in  a  beautiful 
valley,  surrounded  by  hills  covered  on  all 
sides  by  plants  and  flowers  most  rare.  To 
the  traveller,  weary  of  a  railroad  car  and 
fond  of  botanizing,  no  more  profitable  and 
pleasant  place  can  he  find  to  wile  away  a  few 
days.  The  springs  have  been  analyzed  by 
the  state  geologist  and  the  best  chemists  in 
Nashville,  and  they  have  been  proved  to  pos- 
sess the  best  qualities.  The  invalid  in  search 
of  active  medicinal  waters  and  bracing  air, 
should  pay  Winchester  a  visit. 

"  Alliance  Springs. — ISTear  the  above,  some 
four  miles  distant,  have  been  discovered 
springs  of  nearly  equal  value  and  variety. 
They  are  called  *  Alliance  Springs,'  and  bid 
fair  to  become  di,  fashionable  resort. 

^^  Montvale  Springs,  situated  near  the  city 
of  Knoxville,  East  Tennessee,  accessible  at 
all  times,  I  believe,  by  conveyances  from  the 
city,  are  rich  in  medicinal  waters  of  different 
varieties,  and  are  much  resorted  to  by  invalids 
and  pleasure-seeking  people  from  all  parts  of 


:gs. 

ngs;  red 
freestone. 
^  in  full 
beautiful 
jd  on  all 
•are.  To 
car  and 
;able  and 
i^ay  a  few 
lyzed  by 
emists  in 
jd  to  pos- 
in  search 
icing  air, 

)ve,  some 

iscovered 

\  variety. 

and  bid 

the  city 
jssible  at 
from  the 

different 
y  invalids 
1  parts  of 


WARM  SPRINGS. 


281 


the  South.  The  scenery  around  is  grand; 
and  this  region  has  even  been  called  the 
Switzerland  of  America." 

Warm  Springs,  of  the  temperature  of  9 
F.,  are  on  the  French  Broad  Kiver,  issuing 
from  its  banks. 


5^ 


24-^ 


^11 


282      MINERAL  AND  THERMAL  SPRINGS. 


II 


I 
1 


1 

1 )  ■■•-^,:       H' 

!' 

^■f 

CHAPTER  XIY. 

Springs  of  North  Carolina— Th3  Warm  and  Hot  Springs 
of  Buncombe  County — Springs  of  South  Carolina-- 
Glenn's,  West's,  Click's,  Cowpen's— Springs  of  Geor- 
gia— The  Indicin— Warm,  of  Meriwether  County- 
Madison— How  reached — Rowland's,  Gordon's. 

In  North  Carolina,  the  springs  of  which 
we  have  most  heard,  acd  those  for  which  this 
State  is  most  remarkable,  are  thermal.    These 

are 

The  Warm  and  Hot  Springs  of  Buncombe 
County. — Buncombe  is  one  of  the  northwest- 
ern counties  of  the  State,  lying  between  Ten- 
nessee on  the  north,  and  South  Carolina  on 
the  south.  The  springs  are  situated  on  the 
western  bank  of  the  French  Broad  River, 
and  so  near  are  they  to  it  that  in  times  of 
freshet  they  are  overflowed  by  the  water  of 
this  stream.  The  depth  of  the  river  varies 
at  tms  spot;  it  being  in  some  places  ten 
to  fifteen  feet,  in  others  quite  shoaly.  The 
last  spring  opened  is  twenty  yards  farther 


3r  varies 


WARM  AND  HOT  SPRINGS. 


283 


from  the  river  tlir."  the  others.  Its  tempe- 
rature is  not  quite  -^  great  as  theirs.  The 
former  is  104°  F.,  and  the  latter  Oi^  F.  At 
the  surface,  the  ^.mperature  of  the  basins 
supplied  by  the  first  two,  is  100''  F. 

This  is  a  beautiful  and  romantic  spot,  ■♦i'p- 
resenting  an  extensive  meadow  contiguous 
to  the  river,  embosomed  in  lofty  mountains, 
among  which  the  river  winds.  The  valley 
seems  not  to  exceed  a  mile  in  width,  n.nd  is 
much  narrower  than  this  both  above  and 

below.*  '         \ 

The  water  is  limpid  and  continually  emits 
bubbles  of  nitrogen.  An  analysis  of  three 
quarts  of  the  water,  by  Professor  Smith, 
gave  the  following  results : — 


Muriates  of  lime  and  magnesia 
Sulphate  of  magnesia 
Sulphate  of  lime     . 
Insoluble  residue    . 
Loss       .        .        •        •        • 

Equal  to  but  4.66  grains  in  a  pint 


Grains. 
.     4 
.     6 
.  14.5 
.     2.5 
.     1 

.  28.0 


*  Professor  E.  D.  Smith,  feilliman's  Journal,  Vol.  III. 


284      MINERAL  AND  THERMAL  SPRINGS. 


Water  of  such  purity  may  readily  be 
taken  to  the  extent  of  from  three  to  four 
quarts  daily,  as  we  are  told  is  done  by  visitors 
at  the  springs.  After  being  thus  freely 
drunk  it  is  said,  however,  to  exert  a  brisk 
purgative  action.  It  then  ceases  to  produce 
anv  sensible  effect. 

The  bath,  but  without  precise  specification 
of  temperature,  is,  we  are  told,  taken  twice 
daily.  The  time  of  immersion  from  half  an 
hour  to  an  hour.  On  these  important  topics 
I  have  dwelt  with  some  emphasis,  when 
speaking  of  the  Virginia  warm  and  hot 
springs;  and  to  the  advice  and  cautions  laid 
down  on  that  occasion,  I  would  refer  tlie 
reader.  The  warm  bath  of  94°  F.,  at  the  Bun- 
combe  Springs,  is  pleasant,  safe,  and  salutary 
to  nearly  all  who  may  visit  the  spot.  The  hot 
bath,  from  100°  F.  to  104°  F.,  is,  on  the  con- 
trary, not  only  of  doubtful  propriety  for  per- 
sons in  common  health,  but  positively  inju- 
rious under  a  great  variety  of  circumstances 
in  disease.  Its  unquestionable  utility,  how- 
ever, in  certain  cases,  may  be  inferred  from 
what  was  said  in  a  preceding  chapter  on  the 
Virginia  thermal  waters. 


SOUTH  CAROLINA  SPRINGS.  285 

Many  cases  of  chronic  rheumatism,  palsy, 
and  other  kinds  of  weakened  and  impeded 
motion  are  recorded,  in  which  a  cure  or  great 
relief  was  obtained  by  the  use  of  this  water 
internally  and  externally. 

Springs  of  South  Carolina. 

The  geological  character  of  the  State  is 
unfavorable  to  the  existence  of  springs  of 
very  prominent  mineral  properties.  Never- 
theless there  are  some  that  have  acquired 
considerable  notoriety  for  medicinal  virtues. 
Among  these  the  most  noted  are  Glenn's 
Springs,  in  Spartanburg  District.  The  water 
of  these  springs  is  strongly  charged  with 
salts  of  lime."^'  Their  location  is  a  pleasant 
and  salubrious  one,  and  the  springs  are  much 
resorted  to  by  visitors  from  the  lower  parts 
of  the  State.    Not  far  from  this  there  is  a 

*  Professor  Shepard,  of  the  Medical  College  of  Charles- 
ton, says  that  the  water  of  these  springs  "is  strongly  im- 
pregnated with  sulphur.  It  contains,  also,  sulphate  of 
lime  (with  traces  of  sulphate  of  magnesia),  supcrcarbon- 
ate  of  lime  and  chloride  of  calcium." 

This  was  the  result  of  an  analysis  by  Professor  Shep- 
ard, and  would  show  that  the  state  geologist  is  in  error. 


286      MINERAL  ANP  THERMAT.  SPRINGS. 


'in  i 


[1 


■J 


chalybeate  spring,  known  as  West's  Spring. 
Chick's  Springs,  a  few  miles  above  the  village 
of  Greenville,  are  pleasantly  situated  in  sight 
of  the  mountains,  and  within  a  pleasant  ride 
of  the  village.  The  w^ater  resembles  that  at 
Glenn's  Springs,  but  is  not  so  strongly  im- 
pregnated. There  are,  in  Abbeville  District, 
in  the  Flatwoods,  and  near  Parson's  Moun- 
tains, saline  and  chalybeate  springs,  but  they 
are  not  places  of  resort.  There  is  another 
spring  in  the  eastern  side  of  the  district  at 
Pinson's  Ford,  near  Dr.  Jones's,  which  is  also 
chalybeate  and  saline,  and  deserves  a  trial. 
In  Laurens  there  are  three  or  four  highly 
chalybeate  and  sulphureous  springs.  They 
occur  in  the  hornblende  slates  that  extend 
from  the  Saluda  to  the  Enoree,  north  of  the 
village,  and  are  worthy  of  notice. 

A  few  miles  above  the  village  of  Spartan- 
burg, a  spring  occurs  that  has  some  reputa- 
tion, and  is  a  place  of  some  resort. 

Another  spring  of  similar  character  is 
found  at  the  foot  of  the  Estatoe  Mountains, 
in  the  upper  part  of  Greenville,  a;  Mr. 
Barton's. 

At  and  near  the  furnace  (Cowpens)  there 


SPRINGS  K.F  GEORGIA. 


28: 


are  many  picturesque  spots  as  well  as  a  clia- 
lybeate  spring.— From  Report  on  the  Geohgy 
of  South  Carolina,  by  Mr,  Tuomey,  State  Geolo- 

gist.  '  ^ 

Dr.  Gaillard  informs  me  tliat  Glenn  s 
Springs  "  have  a  considerable  reputation, 
being°particularly  esteemed  by  the  people 
in  d°yspeptic  affections;  which  may  very 
well  be  relieved  by  the  change  of  scene  and 
air,  and  climate,  by  the  exercise,  &c.,  of  those 
who  resort  to  them. 

SPRINGS  OF   GEORGIA. 

The  only  information  which  I  have  been 
able  to  procure  on  the  mineral  and  thermal 
springs  of  this  state  is  contained  in  the  fol- 
lowing noticesjby  my  valued  friend.  Professor 
Richard  D.  Arnold,  of  Savannah.  In  his 
letter  on  the  occasion,  he  says: — 

"  I  find  it  difficult  to  gather  any  but  popu- 
lar  information  concerning  them. 

"First  in  medicinal  importance  stand  the 
Indian  Springs,  in  Butts  County.  They  are 
sulphureous,  and  are  much  resorted  to  for 
rheumatic  complaints,  and  for  disorders  de- 
pendent upon  depraved  digestion,  whether  of 


288      MINERAL  AND  THERMAL  SPRINGS. 


II 


1:  t" 


i 


tlie  liver  or  stomaca.  In  both  chronic  hepa- 
titis and  chronic  gastritis,  some  of  my  pa- 
tients  have  been  benefited  most  decidedly.  I 
think  very  highly  of  their  medicinal  qualities. 

"  The  Warm  Springs^  in  Meriwether  County, 
have  gained  very  great  reputation  for  curing 
rheumatism  and  gout.  They  are  naturally 
warm,  about  90°  F.,  and  hold  magnesia,  &c., 
in  solution. 

"  From  what  I  have  learned,  and  from  the 
great  relief  afforded  to  a  gouty  patient,  whom 
I  sent  there,  some  six  years  since,  I  think 
they  would  prove  very  serviceable  in  poda- 
gra. Their  very  decided  efficacy  in  curing 
rheumatism  is  beyond  dispute. 

"  The  Madison  Springs^  in  Madison  County, 
are  purely  chalybeate.  They  are  much  re- 
sorted to  in  cases  where  tonics  are  indicated. 

"  These  three  springs  have  been  long  esta- 
blished in  public  reputation,  in  this  section 
of  our  Union.  They  are  all  situated  on  much 
higher  elevations  than  the  seaboard ;  and  as 
far  as  temperature  is  concerned,  they  may 
challenge  a  competition  with  any  mineral 
springs  in  the  Union.  Their  elevation  also 
secures  them  from  malarial  influences. 


mmm 


INDIAN  AND  WARM  SPRINGS.  289 

"  You  have  chalybeate  springs  in  abund- 
ance at  the  North,  but  I  doubt  very  much  if 
any  two  springs  can  any  where  be  found 
combining  such  decided  medicinal  qualities 
as  the  Indian  and  the   Meriwether  Warm 
Springs.     They  are,  also,  of  very  easy  ac- 
cess from  the  North.     One  of  our  fine  sea 
steamers  would  land  a  patient  at  our  wharves 
in  sixty  hours  from  New  York,  and  our 
railroad  would  convey  him  to  within  sixteen 
miles  of  the  Indian  Springs,  and  about  fifty 
of  the  Warm  Springs.     The  former  could  be 
reached  within  four  and  a  half  days  of  travel 
from  New  York,  and  the  latter  within  five 
and  a  half  days."^* 

*  [In  farther  illustration  of  what  Dr.  Arnold  writes, 
respecting  the  ease  and  rapidity  with  which  these  springs 
may  be  reached  from  the  North— from  Philadelphia  by 
her  steam-pacliet  line  to  Savannah,  as  well  as  from 
New  York,  I  append  the  following  details  of  the  inland 
route,  taken  from  a  newspaper  account  of  the   "Indian 

Springs:" — 

From  Charleston,  there  are  several  modes  of  access. 
The  one  generally  used  is  by  steamer  to  Savannah,  110 
miles;  thence  to  Macon  by  the  Central  Railroad,  191 
miles ;  from  thence  to  Forsyth,  25  miles,  where  you  travel 
on  the  btage  to  the  Springs.  10  miles— making  the  dis- 

25 


sir. 


290      MIXEKAL  AND  THERMAL  SPRINGS. 

"  Kowland's  Springs,  in  Cass  County,  also 
a  chalybeate,  and  Gordon's  Springs,  in  Mm. 
ray  County,  have  lately  begun  to  attract  the 
attention  of  travellers  and  invalids.  In 
Murray  County,  1  am  informed  that  within  a 
stone's  throw  of  each  other,  there  arise  four 
springs,  each  mineral,  and  each  differing  from 
the  other.  Pure  limestone  springs  abound 
in  the  upper  part  of  our  State.  I  am  sorry 
that  I  cannot  give  you  any  authentic  analy- 
sis of  any  of  these  springs.  I  am  not  dis- 
posed to  rely  much  on  those  which  have  been 
made." 

tance  342  miles.  By  this  route  you  can  leave  Charles- 
ton on  one  day  and  arrive  at  the  Springs  on  the  next. 
Another  route  is  by  railroad,  via  Augusta,  tc  Coving- 
tc'i,  and  thence  by  stage  a  distance  of  31  miles.  Or,  if 
the  traveller  vould  wish  to  beguile  the  tedium  of  travel- 
ling, he  can  stop  at  Stone  Mountain,  by  taking  the  train 
at  Augusta  to  Atlanta.  There  are  several  fine  hotels  at 
the  Springs.] 


SPRINGS  OF  ALABAMA. 


291 


'     CHAPTER  XY. 

Springs  of  Alabama-Bladon-Bailey's-Mineral  Arte- 
sian Wells— Springs  of  Mississippi— Cooper's  (Arte- 
Bian)  Well— Ocean  Springs— Their  situation— Springs 
of  Arkansas— Hot  of   Ouachita  or    War>hitaw—The]T 
Bituation-Between    the    Hot    and   Cold    Mountains 
-Vapor  bathing— Cold  affusion— Warm  bath— Com- 
position of  the  water— Its  resemblance  to  chicken  broth 
—Diseases  cured  by  the  water- Chalybeate  and  Acidu- 
lous Springs-Number  of   the   Hot    Springs-Their 
geological  relations-Warm  bath  in  the  creek-Tem- 
perature of  the  Springs— Adaptation  of  the  water  to 
certain  domestic  purposes-These  Hot  Springs  resem- 
ble those  of  Baden,  Wisbaden,  Teplitz,  and  Carlsbad— 
Applicableto  the  same  diseases— Cause  of  the  animal  fla- 
vor—Vapor  bathing— Its  effects  and  utility— Springs  of 
Florida— Numerous  but  not  described— Subterranean 
rivers— Sulphur  Spring  near  Tampa. 

SPRINGS  OF  ALABAMA. 

The  tertiary  formations  of  the  United 
States  are  not  remarkable  for  the  mineral 
character  of  the  water ;  yet,  in  the  Alabama 
tertiary  formation,  there  are  several  springs 
of  very  marked  properties. 


292      MINERAL  AND  THERMAL  SPRINGS. 


Besides  numerous  saline  springs  in  a  stra- 
tum associated  with  the  burr-stone,  there  are 
others  strongly  impregnated  with  sulphu- 
retted hydrogen.  One  occurs  at  the  lower 
Salts,  which  is  quite  strong;  and  another  at 
the  upper  Salt-works.  Both  of  these  are 
places  of  occasional  resort  for  invalids. 

Tallahatta  Springs  are  well  known,  and 
much  visited  by  citizens  of  that  part  of  the 
State.  Besides  sulphur,  the  water  contains 
salts  of  iron,  lime,  and  magnesia. 

Of  all  the  springs  of  this  region,  those  of 
Bladon  are  deservedly  the  most  noted.  The 
water  has  been  analyzed  by  Prof.  Brumby, 
but,  as  the  analysis  was  executed  at  a  dis- 
tance from  the  spring,  and  no  precautions 
were  taken  to  preserve  the  gaseous  ingredients 
when  the  water  was  transmitted  to  the  pro- 
fessor, of  course  the  sulphur  does,  not  appear 
in  his  analysis.  One  is,  therefore,  surprised 
after  reading  it  to  find  the  Bladon  among  the 
strongest  sulphur  waters  in  the  State.  The 
springs  are  pleasantly  situui^ed,  and,  at  the 
proper  season,  very  accessible  from  the  Ala- 
bama Eiver. 

There  is  a  strong  chalybeate  spring  still  in 


e 


BLADON  SPRINGS. 


293 


the  tertiarv  formation,  west  of  Claiborne.  It 
is  sltuated^in  the  superficial  beds  of  red  loam. 
^TuomeTfs  First  Biennial  Report  of  ./.e  Geo- 

iQny  of  Alabama, 

Bbdon  Springs.-"The  Bladon  Springs 
savs  Hon.  S.  S.  Houston,  a  member  of  the 
House  of  Eepresentatives  from  Wasliington 
County,  "are  eighty-five  miles  from  Mobile, 
seven  Trom  Coffeeville,  in  Clarke  County, 
eight  from  Barryton,  in  Wasbington  County, 
and  three  from  Tombecbee  Eiver,  between 
which  and  the.  springs  are  pine  lands,  with 
no  swamp  intervening.     The  surroundmg 
country  is  much  broken   and   diversified 
The  "rowth  is  pine,  with  an  admixture  ot 
oak,  hickory,  &c.,  and  it  is  abundantly  sup- 
phed  with  good  water.    The  river  up  to  this 
place  is  always  navigable  for  steamboats  ot 
some  class,  and  the  run  from  Mobile  can  be 
made  in  from  ten  to  eighteen  hours. 

"The  accommodations  at  the  sprmgs  are 
now  (December,  1845)  sufficient  for  one  bun- 
dred  visitors,  and  the  proprietors  have  erected 
a  large  hotel,  which  will  be  finished  before 
the  next  season,  and  which  will  accommodate 

25* 


ii 


If-      ;     , 

1 

1  f  1 

;i  iltl 


294:     MINERAL  AND  THERMAL  SPRINGS. 

two  hundred  more.  They  are  also  making 
efforts  to  improve  the  roads  leading  to  the 
springs  from  all  points." 

Six  or  seven  fountains,  diflfering  slightly 
in  their  deposit  and  other  characteristics,  it 
is  said,  gush  from  the  earth  in  a  small  area, 
furnishing  abundance  of  water,  and  present- 
ing a  striking  appearance. 

Analysis  of  a  wine  pint : — 

Cubic  Inches. 
Sulphuretted  hydrogen  (quantity  not  ascertained). 
Carbonic  acid  gas 4.075 


Chloride  of  sodium    . 

.     0.9625 

Carbonate  of  soda     . 

.     4.1112 

Carbonate  of  lime 

.     0.3437 

Carbonate  of  magnesia 

.     0.1706 

Oxide  of  iron 

.     0.0300 

Sulphate  of  lime 

.     0.0019 

Silica  and  alumina     . 

.     0.2631 

Crenic  acid 

.     0  0912 

Apocrenic  ficifi  . 

.     0.0750 

Loss 

.     0.0400 

6.0892 


The  free  carbonic  acid  and  the  relatively 
large  proportion  of  carbonate  of  scda  in  this 
water  place  it  among  the  acidulous  ones.  In 
certain  forms  of  dyspepsia  and  bowel  dis- 


f 


ras. 

)  making 
Qg  to  the 

:  slightly 
eristics,  it 
nail  area, 
I  present- 


Cubic  Inches, 
tained). 

4.075 


BAILEY^S  SPRING. 


295 


0.9625 
4.1112 
0.3437 
0.1706 
0.0300 
0.0019 
0.2631 
0  0912 
0.0750 
0.0400 

6.0892 

relatively 
da  in  this 
ones.  In 
owel  dis- 


anie 


dbj 


heat  and  irritation,  the  Bladon  waters  must 
be  valuable.* 

Bailey's  Spring  is  situated  in  Lauderdale 
County,  Alabama,  fourteen  miles  from  Tus- 
cumbia,  nine  from  Florence,  and  two  and  a 
half  from  the  stage-road  leading  to  Kash- 
ville.    The  water  is  cool,  transparent,  ana 
almost  tasteless.   A  qualitative  analysis  made 
by  Dr.  Currey,  of  Nashville,  shows  it  to  con- 
tain carbonic  acid,  sulphuretted  hydrogen, 
carbonates  of  soda  and  magnesia,  oxide  of 
iron  in  union  with  carbonic  acid,  chloride  of 
sodium,  and  carbonate  of  potash.    Mr.  Tuo- 
mey,  in  his  analysis  of  this  water,  found  car- 
bonates of  iron  and  of  soda,  chloride  of  so- 
dium, and  a  trace  of  carbonate  of  potash, 
and  sulphur— the  last  perhaps  in  combina- 
tion with  soda  as  a  sulphuret. 

The  water  of  this  spring  is  extolled  in 
dyspepsia,  scrofula,  and  dropsy;  but  we  have 
no  specification  of  the  stages  or  particular 
features  of  these  diseases  in  which  it  is  apr'i- 
cable,  nor  the  quantity  of  the  water  drank  to 
produce  the  desired  effect. 

*  The  analysis  of  Bladon  Springs  was  made  by  Pro- 
fessor Brumby,  of  the  University  of  Alabama. 


i 
'Ax 


ii 


^iSl 


'fl 


M 


mi 

ii 


i 


296      MINERAL  AND  THERMAL  SPRINGS. 

As  an  acidulo-sulpliureous  and  chalybeate 
water,  this  would  be  adapted  to  a  variety  of 
functional  disturbances  of  the  digestive  and 
renal  organs,  and  to  scrofula  in  its  incipient, 
as  well  as  in  its  more  advanced  and  ulcerative 
stage.  Nothing  is  said  in  the  pamphlet  be- 
fore me  of  its  action  on  the  bowels,  and  we 
are  left  to  infer  that  it  is  a  mild  alterative 
not  wanting  in  therapeutic  activity. 

Numerous  mineral  waters  have  been  ob- 
tained  of  late  years  in  Alabama,  by  boring, 
with  a  view  of  getting  pure  potable  water. 

SPRINGS  OF  MISSISSIPPL 

Coo_pe7^s  W<^^^  is  four  miles  from  Eaymond, 
the  county  seat  of  Hinds,  and  twelve  miles 
west  of  Jackson,  the  seat  of  government, 
Mississippi,  on  land  belonging  to  the  Eev. 
Preston  Cooper. 

The  water  is  derived  from  an  Artesian  well 
dug  to  the  depth  of  107  feet  iu  a  solid  sand- 
stone  rock;  in  some  parts,  a  considerable 
conglomerate  overlaying  and  mixed  with  the 
sandstone.  At  the  surface,  the  rock  is  soft, 
but  becomes  quite  hard  at  a  depth  beyond 
the  reach  of  atmospheric  action.    After  re- 


HHi 


cooper's  well. 


29: 


peated  attempts  and  pauses  of  labor,  the 
water  first  flowed  into  the  veil  on  Friday, 
Sept.  16,  184:1.  The  country  around  is  bro- 
ken  and  hilly,  remarkably  dry,  and  enjoying 
a  reputation  for  great  salubrity.  It  is  near 
the  Jacksuii  Kailroad. 

The  depth  of  water  at  the  well  seldom  ex- 
ceeds five  feet.  It  is  said  to  flow  in,  at  the 
bottom,  fiom  three  different  sources,  the  wa- 
t:rs  of  which  differ  from  each  othor,  so  that 
it  will  be  desirabb,  at  some  future  period,  to 
examine  the  general  character  of  each.  As 
it  now  presents  itself,  it  is  an  active  saline 

chalybeate. 
Temp,  of  Cooper's  Well  water,  6d°  F.;  the 

air  being  at  80°  F. 

Taste  not  unpleasant,  and  slightly  mineral. 
Ocbr,  little  or  none,  although  it  is  said  to 
have  a  marked  one  of  sulphuretted  hydro- 
gen: the  quantity  must,  however,  be  very 
small.  Color,  transparent,  with  small  yellow 
flakes  floating  on  it.  S]pec:fic  gravity,  1.00147. 
Gas  in  a  wine  gallon : — 

Cubic  inches. 
r,  .  .      6.5 

Oxygen    

4  5 

Nitrogen 

A  a 

Gojbonic  acid  .••••* 


i-  '4, 


298      MINERAL  AND  THERMAL  SPRINGS. 


't'    w 


Solid  contents  of  one  gallon  are  105 
composed  as  follows : — 


Sulphate  of  soda 
Sulphate  of  magnesia 
Sulphate  of  lime 
Sulphate  of  potash    . 
Sulphate  of  alumina 
Chloride  of  sodium    . 
Chloride  of  calcium    . 
Chloride  of  magnesium 
Peroxide  of  iron 
Crenate  of  lime 
Crenate  of  silica 


grams, 

Grains. 
11.705 
23.280 
42.132 
0.608 
6.120 
8.380 
4.322 
3.480 
3.352 
0.311 
1.801 

105.471 


The  deposit  from  this  water  by  evaporation 
contains,  in  100  grains  :— 


Water 

Chloride  of  lime 
Sulphate  of  lime 
Peroxide  of  iron 


Grains. 
.    38 

0 

.    25 
.    35 


The  iron  in  this  water  was  found  altogether 
in  the  yellow  particles  which  float  about, 
although  it  is  more  than  probable  that,  at 
certain  seasons  of  the  year,  it  must  also  be 
found  in  the  clear  water. 

The  water  loses  none  of  its  properties  by 


GS. 

5  grains, 

Grains. 
11.705 
23.280 
42.132 
0.608 
6.120 
,      8.360 
.      4.322 
.      3.480 
,      3.352 
.      0.311 
.      1.801 

105.471 

ap  oration 


Grains. 
.    38 

0 

.    25 
.    35 

altogether 
)at  about, 
Le  that,  at 
3t  also  be 

perties  by 


coopek's  well. 


299 


being  kept.  At  all  times,  when  the  effects 
of  the  iron  are  sought  for,  the  sediment  should 
be  taken  along  with  the  water. 

The  concentrated  wetter  loses  nothing  by  the 
process  but  a  portion  of  the  sulphate  of  lime, 
which  is  separated  and  adheres  to  the  vessel. 

Season  for  visiting  the  well— latter  part  of 
spring,  and  in  the  summer,  and  early  autumn. 
The  water  is  quite  efficient  in  winter,  and 
many  invalids  resort  to  the  spot   at  this 

season. 

Diseases  in  which  Cooper's  Well  water^  is 
used:  Chronic  intestinal  ones,  unaccompanied 
with  organic  alterations :  it  is  very  useful  in 
dyspepsia,  inflammation  of  the  bladder, 
ffropsy  dependent  on  hepatic  or  intestinal 
disease,  and  chronic  diarrhoea. 

Dr.  Foster's  case,  reported  by  J.  Mason 
Sims,  M.  D.,  Montg'y  Ala.:  Chronic  diar- 
rhoea in  its  worst  form;  extreme  emaciation; 
dry  skin;  eyes  sunken;  ghastly  expression; 
caused  a  female  to  faint  at  the  sight  of  him ; 
pulse  small  and  feeble;  discharges  copious 
and  frequent.  Began  by  taking  a  wineglass- 
ful  of  the  water  four  times  a  day,  gradually 
increasing  until  he  drank  a  pinb  in  the  course 


300      MINERAL  AND  THERMAL  SPRINGS. 

of  the  day.    In  eiglit  weeks,  returned  home 

a  well  man. 

Ocean  Springs.— These  are  in  Jackson  Co, 
Lynchburg,  Miss.     Dr.  Austin,  of  New  Or- 
leans,  tells  us,  that  the  springs  are  situated 
among  the  pine  hills,  five  miles  from  the 
town  of  Biloxi,  and  about  a  half  mile  from 
the  eastern  shore  of  Biloxi  Bay,  near  Fort 
Bayou.     This  name  is  derived  from  a  fort 
built  there  two  centuries  ago  by  the  French, 
who  were  under   the  impression  that  the 
mouth  of  Biloxi  Bay  was  the  mouth  of  the 
]^[ississippi  River.     The  bluff  on  this  shore 
presents   a  beautiful    appearance,   is  much 
higher  than  on  the  other  shore  of  the  bay, 
and  the  land  is  more  elevated  and  rolling 
than  any  land  on  the  sea  coast  between  this 
place  and  the  city  of  New  Orleans. 

Analysis.— ''Water  colorless,  even  when 
kept  for  :t  length  of  time  in  bottles,  provided 
the  bottles  be  well  corked.  So  soon  as  opened, 
the  water  begins  to  blacken  from  a  deposit 
of  sulphuret  of  iron.  The  odor  of  the  water 
is  that  of  sulphuretted  hydrogen,  which  the 
water  contains  in  considerable  quantity;  the 


n»  i»Ji«p  <«!■■ 


OCEAN  SPRINGS— ANALYSIS. 


301 


son  Co., 
Few  Or- 
situated 
:om  the 
lie  from 
3ar  Fort 
n  a  fort 

French, 
that  the 
:h  of  the 
lis  shore 
is   much 

the  bay, 
i  rolling 
v.een  this 

en  when 
provided 
IS  opened, 
a  deposit 
the  water 
ivhich  the 
Qtity;  the 


taste  is  that  known  to  belong  to  this  class  of 
waters.     Specific  gravity,  1.00082. 
Gaseous  contents  in  one  gallon:— 


Grains. 
4.632 
0.481 


Grains. 

47.770 

3.882 
4.989 
4.712 


Carbonic  acid     .         •         •         ;         • 
Sulphuretted  hydrogen       . 

Solid  contents  in  one  gallon  :— 

Chloride  of  sodium     .         .         •         • 
Chloride  of  calcium    .         •         •         • 
Chloride  of  magnesium       . 
Protoxide  of  iron       .         •         •         • 
Iodine,  a  strong  trace. 
Organic  matter,  trace. 
Chloride  of  potassium,  trace. 
Alumina,  trace. 

"The  iron  is  doubtless  in  combination 
with  both  the  sulphuretted  [hydrogen]  and 
carbonic  acid  gases;  the  excess  of  carbonic 
acid,  holding  both  these  combinations  in  so- 
lution. . 

"  The  medicinal  virtue  of  these  waters  is  to 
be  looked  for  more  particularly  in  the  oxide 
of  iron  and  sulphuretted  hydrogen,  both  of 
which  exist  in  notable  quantities;  and  it  is 
therefore  apparent  that  many  chronic  dis- 
eases might  be  cured,  or  receive  important 
26 


■»l 


i 


802      MINEEAL  AND  THERMAL  SPRINGS. 

alleviation  from  these  waters.  As  a  batli,  it 
could  be  applied  witli  much  advantage."-- 
J.  Lawrence  Smith,  If.  D. 

"The  proximity  of  these  springs  to  the 
city  of  New  Orleans  and  the  city  of  Mobile, 
being  nearly  equidistant  (90  miles)  from  both 
places,  constitutes  one  of  its  advantages,  and 
must,  from  its  eligibility  of  location,  cause  it 
to  be  patronized  by  the  lovers  of  freedom 
from  the  foul,  reeking  streets  of  southern 
cities,  during  the  summer  months." 

Dr.  Austin,  in  a  letter  accompanying  a 
printed  account  of  the  Ocean  Springs,  just 
made  use  of,  writes:  "Striking  cures  have 
been  wrought  by  them  in  many  chronic  dis- 
eases—among them  were  affections  of  the 
skin,  scrofula,  dyspepsia,  and  strumous  oph- 
thalmia." 

Ir.  ^  RKANSAS  I  shall  only  notice 
The  Hot  Springs  of  Ouachita  (  Washitaiv).— 
They  are  situated  on  a  stream  called  Hot 
Spring  Creek,  which  falls  into  the  Washitaw 
Eiver°  eight  miles  below.  They  are  fifty 
miles  south  of  the  Arkansas  Eiver,  in  Clark 
County,  Arkansas,  and  six  miles  west  of  the 


HOT  SPKLSGS  OF  WASHITAW.  305 

road  from  Cadria  to  Mount  Prairie,  on  Ked 

Biver.  .        ,•  *i  , 

The  approach  to  the  springs  lies  up  the 

valley  of  the  creek,  which  is  partly  made  up 
of  its  waters.    Oa  leaving  the  banks  of  the 
AYashitaw,  the  face  of  the  country  almost 
imperceptibly  changes  from  a  rich  soil,  cover- 
ed with  luxuriant  growth  of  trees,  to  a  sterile 
mineral  tract,  and  on  coming  near  the  springs 
the  traveller  is  presented  with  one  of  the 
ino«t  picturesque  views  in  nature.    On  the 
ri<rht  hand  rises  the  Eot  Mountain,  with  the 
springs  issuing  at  its  foot ;  on  the  left,  the 
Cold  Mountain,  which  is  little  more  than  a 
confused  and  mighty  pile  of  stones;  and  the 
view  in  front  is  terminated  by  a  high  point 
of  land,  which  makes  down  gradually  into 
the  valley,  and  separates  the  creek  into  two 
forks  of  nearly  equal  size. 

The  Hot  Mountain  is  about  three  hundred 
feet  high,  rising  quite  steep,  and  presenting 
occasionally  ledges  of  rocks:  it  terminates 
at  top  in  a  confused  mass  of  broken  rocks, 
with  here  and  there  a  pine  or  oak  tree.  Its 
sides,  notwithstanding  their  sterility  and  the 
steepness  of  their  ascent,  are  covered  with  a 


rt 


304      MINERAL  AND  THERMAL  SPRINGS. 

most  luxuriant  growth  of  vines,  particularly 
muscadine,  the  fruit  of  which  is  delicious. 
Haws  and  blackberries  are  also  found  in 
great  abundance. 

The  Cold  Mountain  is  separated  from  tlie 
Hot  by  a  valley  of  about  fifty  yards  wide, 
through  which  the  creek  flows.  It  resem- 
bles the  other  mountain  in  its  main  features, 
but  its  sides  are  destitute  of  vegetation. 

The  springs  issue  near  the  foot  of  the  Hot 
]\tountain,  at  an  elevation  of  about  ten  feet 
above  the  level  of  the  creek.     They  are  rm. 
merous  all  along  the  hill-side,  and  the  water 
which  runs  in  copious  streams  is  quite  hot. 
It  will  scald  the  hand,  and  boil  an  egg  hard 
in  ten  minutes.  Dr.  Anderson,  of  Eed  Kiver, 
told    Mr.  Schoolcraft   that   it  could  not  be 
reckoned  over  200°  F.     There  is  a  solitary 
spring  seventy  feet  higher  than  the  others, 
on  the  side  of  the  mountain,  but  it  is,  also, 
of  an  equal  temperature,  and  differs  in  no 
respect  from  those  below.     A  dense  fog  con- 
tinually hangs  over  the  springs,  and  upon 
the  side  of  a  hill  which,  at  a  distance,  looks 
like  a  number  of  furnaces  in  blast.    It  is 
probably   the    condensation   of    this  vapor 


3S. 


ticularly 
lelicious. 
bund  in 


Tom  the 
ds  wide, 
'.t  resem- 
features, 
don. 

■  the  Hot 
ten  feet 
■f  are  na- 
tlie  water 
juite  hot. 
e^ff?  hard 
ed  Kiver, 
d  not  be 
I  solitary 
le  others, 
t  is,  also, 
ers  in  no 
3  fog  con- 
and  upon 
nee,  looks 
ist.    It  is 
his  vapor 


NUMBER  AND  TEMPERATURE.  305 

which  produces  such  a  rank  growth  of  vines 
on  the  side  of  the  mountain. 

The  water  is  clear,  pure,  and  beautiful.  It 
deposits  no  sediment  by  standing. 

Beautiful  green  moss  grows  at  the  sprmgs, 

near  the  edges.  ^ 

I  am  indebted  to  the  late  Judge  Watts  for 
the  following  interesting  account  of  these  re- 
markable springs,  which  I  here  subjoin. 

"  The  Hoi  Sprmgs  of  Arhansas,  or,  as  they 
are  sometimes  called,  the  Ouachita,  are  situ- 
ated in  Eot  Spring  County,  Arkansas,  about 
five  miles  from  Ouachita  (Washitaw)  River, 
and  about  sixty  miles  from  Little  Rock,  in  a 
country  whicli  is  very  rocky,   and  may  be 
called  mountainous,  rather  from  its  charac- 
ter than  from  any  great   elevation.     They 
are  about  thirty  or  forty  in  number,  and 
some  of  them  are  very  copious  in  their  dis- 
charcre,  rushing  out  from  under  the  rocks  m 
a  vokme  three  feet  in  width  by  five  or  six 
inches  in   depth.    The  temperature  of  the 
springs  varies  from  140°  to  145°  (Fah.),  and 
is  sufficiently  hot  to  scald  a  hog  or  a  chicken; 
and  the  water  is  const'^.ntly  used  for  these 

purposes. 

26* 


Ill 


806      MINERAL  AND  THERMAL  SPRINGS. 

"The  mode  of  using  tlie  waters,  most  ge- 
nerally,  is  by  taking   a   steam  bath.    For 
this  purpose   a  small  building,  fifteen  feet 
long  by  five  feet  wide,  is  erected.     One  half 
of  it  is  used  for  an  ante-room,  in  which  to 
dress  and  undress— the   other  half   is  the 
bath  room.    The  floor  of  the  bathing  room 
consists  of  slats  which  are  two  inches  wide 
and  two  inches  apart,  and   is  placed  over 
one  of  these  large  springs,  which  issue  from 
the  rock.     The  water  throws  off  the  steam, 
which  rises  between  the  slats.     For  the  first 
three  or  four  minutes  the  body  is  dry,  hut 
afterwards  a  profuse  perspiration  breaks  on.t, 
which  runs  from  every  pore."     "  The  tem- 
perature of  the  steam-room  is  about  116°  F. 
This  occasions  no  inconvenience,  but  for  per- 
sons who  apprehend  a  congestion  of  the  ves- 
sels  of  the  head,  a  hole  is  made  in  the  roof 
through  which  a  person  can  breathe  the  ex- 
ternal air,  the  body  being  immersed  in  steam." 
"The  patient  usually  remains  thirty  to  forty 
minutes  in  the  bathing  room,  and  when  he 
comes  out,  it  is  not  uncommon  for  two  or 
three  buckets  of  cold  water  to  be  thrown  over 
him  in  the  dressing  room.  There  is  no  danger 


TPtANSITION  BATHING. 


307 


ost  ge- 
I.    For 
en  feet 
>ne  half 
hich  to 
is  the 
g  room 
es  wide 
3d  over 
ue  from 
5  steam, 
tlie  first 
dry,  but 
!aks  ont. 
'he  tem- 
116°  F. 
,  for  per- 
the  ves- 
the  roof 
3  the  ex- 
Q  steam." 
'  to  forty 
when  he 
r  two  or 
own  over 
10  danger 


of  taking  cold  if  the  most  ordinary  precaution 
is  nsed.^    It  is  not  unusual  to  take  a  steam 
bath  in  the  forenoon,  and  a  water  bath  in 
iH  afternoon.    The  water  bath  ic  frequently 
taken  ^n  a  creek,  into  which   all  the  hot 
sprin-s  run.     After  a  spell  of  dry  weather, 
it  is  necessary  to  go  half  a  mile,  and  some- 
times three-quarters  of  a  mile  below  where 
the  hot  springs  run  into  the  creek,  before 
the  water  is  of  a  temperature  to  bathe  m. 
If  the  water  is  carried  from  the  spring  to  a 
hathino;  tub,  it  must  stand  about  four  hours 

before  it  can  be  used.        ' 

^         ^         *  ^        ^         *        *        * 

^         ^         *        ^      ^  There  have 

been  some  attempts  to  analyze  the  water,  but 
I  have  no  faith  in  any  of  them.  The  water 
is  much  impregnated  with  lime  and  magnesia, 

*  r.  .radoxlcal  as  it  may  seem  to  those  ignorant  of  tlie 
circumstances  under  ^'hich  animal  heat  is  developed 
there  is  less  danger  of  taking  cold  at  this  time  than  if 
the  nervous  system  had  not  been  excited,  and  tne  capil- 
laries rendered  turgid  by  the  high  heat  of  the  vapor  ap- 
plied to  the  surface.  This  point  is  fully  argued  and  ex- 
plained in  my  volume  so  often  referred  to  in  these  pages, 
particularly  in  connection  with  the  Russian  Yapor  baths 
and  "  transition  bathing."] 


« 


308      MINERAL  AND  UIERMAL  SPKINGS. 

and  the  deposit  of  these  substances  is  very 
creat  on  the  mountain,  and  in  the  channels 
ki  which  the  water  runs,  and  leaves  and 
sticks  are  continually  petrified  into  <<,  kmdof 
rotten  stone,  composed  of  lime  and  magnesia. 
"  The  water  may  be  drank  without  nausea 
as  soon  as  the  throat  can  bear  it,  and  if  a  little 
salt  be  put  into  it,  it  could  not  be  distinguish- 
ed  from  chicken  broth.    The  best  season  for 
the  use  of  the  water  is  late  in  the  fall,  and 
in  the  winter  and  spring.    Every  spec.es  ot 
chronic  disease  is  cured  by  these  waters,  to 
^vit:  rheumatism,   gout,   scrofula,  venereal, 
mercurial,  erysipelas,  consequences  of  mea- 
sles  of  scarlei  fever,  and  of  whooping  cougb, 
and  all  diseases  occasioned  by  obstructions. 

« Three  miles  from  the  Hot  Springs  is  a 
very  fine  chalybeate  spring,  and  at  the  dis- 
tance of  forty  miles,  at  a  place  called  Irons, 
is  a  spring  of  highly  exhilarating  properties, 
so  much  so  as  to  produce  a  species  of  intoxi- 
cation *  The  mode  of  access  to  the  waters 
when  the  rivers  are  high,  is  by  ascending  tlie 

*  rCoubtless  an  acidulous  or  UgWy  carbonated  yaler 
probably  holding  in  solution  carbonates  of  soda  and  l.me.] 


THEIR  TIIEllArEUTIC  VALUE. 


309 


IS  very 
lannels 
es  and 
kind  of 
xgnesia. 
,  nausea 
I  a  little 
inguislv 
ason  for 
fall,  and 
oecies  of 
raters,  to 
venereal, 
of  mea- 
g  coiigli, 
ctions. 
ings  is  a 
t  the  dis- 
ed  Irons, 
)roperties, 
of  intoxi- 
he  waters 
snding  the 

(iiated  waier, 
la  aud  lime.] 


^,^,,„,as  to  Little  Eoclc,  sixty  rndcs  fiom 
.vhicli  tlie  springs  are  situated;  but  as  th. 
Arkansas  is  not  always  navigable  tliore  is  a 
foute  by  way  of  White  Eiver,  to  Eoclc  Uy^ 
f,,m  tbence  by  stage  sixty  m.les  to  Little 
Rock     Tiiis  route  is  always  accessible. 
' '  Br  Bennet  Dowler,  the  enthusiastic  inves- 
tigator of   physiological    and    pathological 
phenomena,  was  kind  enough  to  ans^^•er  my 
request  to  him  for  information,  by  the  follow- 
[n<r  valuable  details :— 

°"The    therapeutic  value  of    these  Hot 
Springs  is  held  in  high  estimation  in  the 
SoutlC  and  many  cas.    ^ave  beea  reported 
verballv,  among  the  nou-professional  public 
although  most  persons  regard  the  efficacy  of 
the  waters  as  depending  chiefly  or  entirely 
upon  their  temperature.    They  are  regarded 
as  most  useful  in  rheumatism,  contraction 
of  the  limbs,  cutaneous  diseases,  &c.     ihey 
are  used  not  only  externally,  but  internally. 
»  The  number  of  these  hot  springs  arising 
near  each  other,  from  the  declivity,  near  the 
bases  of  two  opposite  hills  (400  or  oOO  feet 
hio-li),  has  been  variously  stated.    Dr.  ilen- 
derson,  of  New  Orleans,  counted  seventy-five. 


310      MINERAL  AND  THERMAL  SPRINGS. 

Judge   Watts,  of  this  city,  reckons  about 
thirty.    The  number  given  by  the  Eev.  T. 
Flint,  the  late  able  geographer  of  the  Valley 
of  the  Mississippi,   agrees  with   the  latter. 
Mr.  Flint  says  that  the  valley  where  these 
springs  arise  runs  north  and  south,  convey- 
ing in  a  southern  direction  a  small  stream  to 
the  Washita  River,  seven  miles  distant ;  that 
thir^-  springs  arise  on  the  east  side  of  this 
valley,  and  but  one  on  the  west,  and  that  the 
water  hardens  p-  egg  in  fifteen  minutes. 

"  Mr.  Featherstonhaugh,  in  his  official  Geo- 
logical Report,  in  1835,  says  that  these  lofty 
ridges  consist  of  old  red  sandstone  formation. 
The  eastern  ridge  has  towards  the  top  a  dense 
forest  of  pines  and  oaks,  fragments  of  the 
rock,  often  ferruginous,  with  conglomerate 
held  together  by  ferruginous  cement ;  upon 
the  flank  of  this  ridge,  Mr,  F.  found  travertin, 
deposited  by  the  mineral  waters,  extending 
one  hundred  and  fifty  yards,  leaning  upon 
the  acclivity  of  the  old  red  sandstone,  r.re- 
senting    sometimes    abrupt  escarpments  of 
from  fifteen  to  twenty-five  feet.    '  Some  of 
the  springs,  he  says,  rise  in  the  bed  of  the 
^t.pnm-one  verv  fine  one  on  its  west  bank, 


SITUATION  FOR  A  TOWN, 


811 


about 
lev.  T. 

latter. 
;  these 
onvey- 
earn  to 
,t;  that 
of  this 
hat  the 
es. 

al  Geo- 
se  lofty 
matioii. 
a  dense 
of  the 
omerate 
t;  upon 
:avertin, 
Ltending 
ig  upoa 
>ne,  rj£Q- 
neiits  of 
Some  of 
d  of  the 
!st  bank, 


and  numerous  others,  of  which  perhaps  .0 
rather  copious  ones  are  found   at  various 
lieicrhts  on  the  ridge,  rising  through  the  old 
rcd%andstone.     Of  springs  of  feebler  force 
there  are  a  great  many.    Some  issue  from 
the  rock  at  an  elevation  of  at  least  one  hun- 
dred feet  from  the  valley  where  the  present 
locr  cabins  are  built.     A  more  beautiful  and 
sii^ularly  convenient  situation  for  a  town 
can°not  be  imagined,  for  by  the  aid  of  the  simp- 
lest frames  to  support  spouts,  thr.  hot  water 
may  be  conveyed  to  the  houses  in  great  pro- 
fusion, for  baths  and  medicinal  purposes,  as 
well  as  for  domestic  uses.     (These  arrange- 
mentshave,asDr.D.learn., been  made.)  Upon 

repeated  trials,  I  found  the  water  of  some  ot 
the  principal  springs  to  be  146°  F.,  never 
hicrher '     From  the  Hot  Springs  occupying 
a  breadth  equal  to  four  hundred  yards  of  the 
base  of  the  ridge,  all  the  hot  w.ter  was  dis- 
charged into    the  creek,   which,  m  many 
parts,  was  of  a  temperature  just  fitted  for  a 
warm  bath ;  and  what  further  assists  to  keep 
up  its   temperature,   is  the  great   number 
of  hot  springs  rising  througli  the  slate  at 
the  bottom  of  tbe  brook.    '  This  can  be  seen 


S12      MINERAL  AND  THERMAL  SPRINGS. 

at  almost  a  hundred  places,  and  altliougli  tlie 
water  does  not  scald  the  hand  there,  still, 
npon  insinuating  my  fingers  a  few  inches  be- 
low  the  ground,  at  the  edge  of  the  stream,  I 
was  obliged  to  retire  them  instantly,  having 
more  thwi  once  burned  them  in  that  way.  It 
this  stream  were  turned,  it  is  incredible  tlie 
quantity  of  water  of  a  temperature  perhaps 
always  equal  to  145°  ¥.,  which  might  be  ob- 
tained     These  mineral  hot  waters,  except 
one  or  two  of  the  springs,  which  are  slightly 
ohalybeates,   are  tasteless,  having  not  tbe 
least  saline    >uce;  but  immense  deposits  of  ' 
the  carbonate  of  lime  attest  the  contrary 
The  thermal  waters  rise  in  a  very  hmpul 
state,  but  as  soon  as  they  get  into  motion, 
and  their  parts  become  exposed  to  the  atmo- 
sphere, a  mineral  deposit  commences,  attach- 
in"'  itself  to  dead  leaves,  to  sticks,  to  anything 
that  serves  for  a  point  of  adhesion;  upon 
this    deposit    a    brilliant    green    enamelled 
looking  substance  presents  itself,  which  in- 
creases and   thickens   in    favorable    situa- 
tions '     Mr.  F.  did  not  analyze  these  wa- 
ters, though  he  says  '  their  gaseous  volume 


VARIED  USES  OF. 


O  1  o 


ugli  the 
Te,  still, 
dies  be- 
tream,  I 
,  having 
wa}'.  If 
iible  the 
perhaps 
it  be  oh- 
;,  except 
)  slightly 
not  the 
^posits  of  ' 
contrary, 
•y  limpid 
)  motion, 
the  atmo- 
js,  attach- 
any  thing 
3n;  upon 
snamelled 
which  in- 
Die    situa- 
these  wa- 
IS  volume 


i,  insic^niflcant-azoteand  a  trace  of  carboiuc 
Lid  °The  solid  contents  are  carbonate  oi 
toe,  carbonate  of  iron,  and  a  trace  of  the 

cinlohate  of  lime.' 

\  Cartwrigbt,  late  of  Natchez,  now  oi 
Kew  Orleans,  informs  me  that  he  has  obtain- 
ed magnets  of  uncommon  power  from  these 

'^r/;orrespondent  of  Professor  Sillimans 

Tournal  represents  the  temperature  ot   the 
r;  as  ranging  from  154=  to  1560  F.,  m 

July,  1837,  that  they  discharge  from  one 
barrk  to  fifty  gallons  of  water  per  minute, 
and  that  their  latitude  is  34    30  Is . 

"Several  persons  have  assured  me  that  the 
temperature  of  the  water  is  exactly  adapted 
to  those  processes  of  domestic  economy  call- 
ed scalding  hogs,  fowls,  &c.;  and    hat,  a 
certain  seasons  and  places,  the  hot  wa^ 
Laving  entered  the  brook,  and  overlying  the 
cold  water  of  the  latter,  does  not  prevent  fish 
from  living  in  the  lower  stratum. 

The  Hot  Springs  of  Washitavv  are,  as  re- 
spects elevated  temperature,  in  the  same  class 
with  the  famed  ones  of  Baden-Badeu,  ^\  is- 
27 


814      MI>-ERAL  AOT  THEMIAL  SPKINGS. 

baden,  Teplitz,  and  Carlsbad*  and  nearly  all 
that  is  said  of  tlie  curative  powers  of  these 

*  The  celebrated  Unsprung,  at  Baden-Baden  is  151» 

F      A  pint  of  the  water  contains  23  grains  of  saline  mat- 

tcr  of  which  16  grains  arc  chloride  of  sodium     F.veor 

si^' glasses,  in  all  about  two  pints  and  a  half  of  the  «tcr, 

.re  drunk,  at  intervals,  before  breakfast.    The  chief  reli- 

ance  however,  is  on  the  baths,  the  indiscriminate  use  01 

,.hic'h  has  been  productive  of  tatal  effects  in  some  cases. 

The  Carlsbad  Springs  (in  Bohemia)  are  fourteen  m 

„„mber  of  which  the  Sprudel  is  the  hottest  and  the  most 

rius      Its  temperature  is  168»  F.,  that  of  two  others 

1440  .nd  137°  F.     The  water  holds  in  solution  44  grainsof 

solid  matters  to  a  pint,  37  grains  of  which  consist  of  the 

sulphates,  carbonates,  and  muriates  of  soda,  with  trace 

of  iron  aiU  iodine.     The  taste  of  the  water  very  much 

resembles    that    of   weak    chicken  broth,  with  a  fla 

and  alkaline  savor.    As  a  drink  it  must  be  taken  a,  to 

Tsmall  quantities.     It  is  now  used  more  internally  than 

'^The Slitz  Springs  (in  Bohemia)  have  a  rangeof  tern- 
perature  from  84°  F.  to  120°.     Their  chief  ingredient  is 
c    bonate   of  soda,  in  the  proportion  of  two  or  t  lee 
plains  to  a  pint.     The  long  ranges  of  bath-h-.es,^^ 
public  and  private,  are  on  a  grand  scale.    At   Aashitw 
the     is  every  inducement  to  rival  Teplitz  in  these  struc- 
•        ::::, Id  iff  as  a  writer  has  said,  there  ought  to    e  . 
mart  at  this  Bohemian  watering  place  for  the  sale  ol 
r^es  ->^-'ch  are  no  longer  needed  we  may  rea<^^see 
that  the  day  will  come  when  a  second-hand  shop  for  tie 
*me  purp o'se  may  be  set  up  at  our  Arkansas  Springs. 


iarly  all 
of  these 

en,  is  \bi^ 
saline  mat- 
i.    Five  or 
the  water, 
e  chief  reli- 
nate  use  oi 
some  cases. 
fourteen  in 
nd  the  most 
two  others 
,44  grains  of 
)nsist  of  the 
with  traces 
I'  very  much 
with  a  flat 
:akcn  at  first 
ternally  than 

range  of  tem- 
ingredieut  is 
two  or  three 
rho^i^es,  both 
At  Washitaw 
n  these  struc- 
lught  to  be  a 
or  the  sale  of 
lay  readily  see 
i  shop  for  the 
sas  Springs. 


TO  WEAT  CASES  APPLICABLE. 


315 


,,ters  ^vlIeIl  used  as  a  batb,  is  applicable  to 
'own     The  same  precautions  arc  neces- 
%Vribe  one  case  as  the  other,  when  re- 
'   ^'i   hid  to  a  bath  at  a  temperature  be- 
^'Tl  Qo  7  and  still  more  whenit  approach- 

!7mmersio-a  in  the  Washitaw  wa- 

r  Ters"-^^^^^^ 

.^rred  from  hemorrhages,  or  who  at 

th  fXeiof  the  vessels  of  the  head,  and 
;i: Xl^o  are  laboring  under  acute  cb. 

- "' »' nss'  ■ » .*:.r 

of  Aese  waters  at  their  mailer       i  ^ 

On  the  other  hand,  recourse  to  them  vim 
Jad"  itt  considerable  confidence  m  para 
Wsis  and  in  chronic  rheumatism  and  gout,  in 
S;randrenal  calculi,  constipation,  chronic 

S   Cents  of  the  liver  and  spleen,  chronic 

T°Zl  diseases  obstructed  or  suspended 

cutaneous  diseases,  _o  ^exvons 

menstruation,  and  m  a  ^^^'^  .°  .  .^^^^ge 
xs-  .■  „<,     Tn  all  these  cases  the  internal  ubt. 
affections,    in  an  iuc=c 
of  the  water  should  be  conjoined  wuh  its  em 

ployment  as  a  bath    ■      ^ 

With  the  abundant  «"PP^y  °1    ,  .^^^,,  j^ 
from  the  numerous  springs  at  WashitaN\, 


316      MINERAL  AND  THERMAL  SPRINGS. 

would  be  an  easy  matter  to  have  every  va- 
riety of  batbs  on  a  large  scale,  viz :  A  piscina 
or  swimming  batb,a  leukerbad,  if  it  were 
desirable,  and  douches  after  every  model  of 
temperature,  size,  and  force. 

The  soup-like  taste  of  this  water,  mention- 
ed by  Judge  Watts,  is  the  same  as  that  de- 
scribed by  visitors  to  some  of  the  German 
Spas,  and  proceeds  from  the  same  cause,  viz: 
the  azotized  or  organic  matter  which  they 
contain,  and  to  which  reference  has  been  al- 
ready made,  when  speaking  of  the  Blue  Sul- 
phur Spring,  in  Virginia. 

An  extensive  suite  of  vapor  baths  might 
be  made  at  the  Washitaw  Springs,  so  as  to 
allow  of  the  use  of  this  active  means  of  cure 
of  many  diseases,  both  alone  and  in  connec- 
tion with  other  forms  of  bathing.    The  tem- 
perature of  the  vapor  introduced  into  the 
somewhat   primitive  bath,  as  described  by 
Judcre  Watts,  is  as  high  as  at  any  time  ne- 
cessary, and  higher  than  is  required  or  pro- 
per in  most  cases.     A  vapor  bath,  at  100°  F. 
,     will  answer  most  purposes,  unless  it  be  de- 
sired to  produce  strong  excitement.     At  a 
lower  degree,  as  90°  F.,  it  will  be  found  to  be 


I^PW 


sntion- 
hat  de- 
rerman 
se,  viz: 
ill  they 
Deen  al- 
Lue  Sul- 


30  as  to 
;  of  en  re 
con  nee- 
Dhe  tem- 
into  the 
•ibed  by 
time  ne- 
1  or  pro- 
tlOO°F. 
it  be  cle- 
t.     At  a 
md  to  be 


EFFECTS  OF  VAPOR  BATHING. 


31 


,  very  sootbir^g  remedy  in  diseases  of  irrita- 
!•!!  and  even  inflammatory  exeitement.  On 
SSo^B  connected  with  the  n^  of  vapor 

h  tto^  and  its  applieation  to  different  dis- 
'  S  I  ave  .-ritten  .'itb  some  fulness  rn 
tvolume  on  Baths^  &c.  1  will  merely  re- 
''^  wbaTis  there  skid  of  its  physiological 
'tl^LVr^e.^-^  o^  .'^ts  therapeutical  ap- 
SX  ISrthe  various  indications  which 

1  vv  vessels  of  the  true  skin  acquire  more 
Sr-a  fulness  from  the  afflux  of  blood 
Ttlim,  in  consequence  of  the  he.t<^^^^^^^ 

vapor,  and  they  -  ^^  ^^^^^^ 

tlip  secretion  of  sweat,    inere  it., 

Sarge  imbibition  of  moisture,  and  conse- 
iuenttaSgrnented  size  of  the  lympbat.c  and 

To  s  absorbents.  Webave  tl^-  ^^  <;-- 
lions  Yiz:  fulness  of  tbe  aroenal  capn  a- 
H  ";  afflux  of  blood,  and  fulness  of  the 
lor/ents  by  tbe  watery  ^f^^^;^ 
which  give  a  plumpness  and  roundness  to 
tiin  and  eelldar  tissue,   observed 

those  ^vbo  have  just  left  the  bath. 

27* 


a. 


318      MINERAL  AND  THERMAL  SPRINGS. 

Florida  can  boast  of  lier  more  than  two 
tliousand  Mineral  and  Thermal  Springs,ontlie 
authority  of  a  writer,  some  time  back,  m  the 
Floridian  Journal.    As  yet,  however,  it  is 
all  boast,  as  far  as  anything  like  a  detailed 
knowledge  of  the  alleged  fact  is  possessed  by 
others  than  the  writer  himself.    He  tells  us, 
indeed,  that  their  principal  solid  contents  are 
the  sulphates  of  lime,  magnesia,  and  soda, 
oxide  of  iron  and  some  iron.    Their  volatile 
in-redients  consist  of  sulphuretted  hydrogen 
carbonic  acid  and  nitrogen  gases.    I  should 
feel  greatly  indebted  to  this  gentleman,  and 
to  others  resident  in  different  parts  of  Flo- 
rida    by  their  communicating   to  me  au- 
thentic details  in  their  possession,  or  procura- 
ble by  them,  on  this  confessedly  very  im- 
portant subject. 

The  writer  referred  to  speaks  ot  the 
"Natural  wonders"  of  the  State,  especially 
under  the  hydrographic  head.  He  says, 
"The  upper  stratum  of  Rorida  rests  on  one 
vast  network  of  irregular  arches  of  stupen- 
dous magnitude,  through  which  innumerable 
rivers,  creeks,  and  mineral  waters,  m  silent 
darkness  perpetually  flow.   Walkulla,  OciUa, 


iWfPPH 


FLORIDA  SPRINGS. 


o 


19 


an  two 
3,  on  the 
,  in  tbe 
r,  it  is 
detailed 
sssed  by 
tells  US, 
,ents  are 
id  soda, 

volatile 
^^drogen, 
I  should 
nan,  and 
s  of  Flo- 

me  au- 
procura- 
very  im- 

s  of  the 
3specially 
He  says, 
ts  on  one 
Df  stupen- 
lumerable 
!,  in  silent 
dla,  Ocilla, 


Wnrcissa,  Crystal,  Uomosassa,  Cliesiouitska, 

wSicha,   and  Silver  Spring,  are  the 

nnl  rivers     The  creeks  of  this  denomi- 

So?  re  o^^^^^^^^         -  -^^^^^^•'  "^^^ ""' 
t^^Z^'^--r.m.^'^-     They  are,  too, 
Sv  o^  ^v^olly  navigable  for  the  smaller 
Cof  steam  and  sail  vessels  throughou 
ie  entire  distance  of   their   subterraneous 
ZZ     Those  that  are  not  can  be  mace  so 
Sc^mparatively  small  trouble  and  little 

,Hclf  is  a  white  sulphur,  bubbles  up  J    m 
the  crevices  of  limestone,  about  a  hundred 

^  1     •  -Uf  T^ilpci  uD  this  latter,     it 

v\^Tpr   and  eisnt  miies  up   i^nio 

fors'a  basin  figbteen  feet  deep,  the  water  of 

which  is  very  limpid. 

Mention  may  be  made,  also,  of  the  Magno 
Ha  *  the  Walake,  and  the  Enterprise  Spnngs, 
on  St.  John's  River;  and  those  on  the  Su. 

wannee-all  sulphureous. 
«nv  N  Benedict,fomcrlyofPhUadclphia,andafter- 
.    „f  UUca  NY.),  well  and  advantngeoudy  known 
wards  of  Ut.ca(N  JOj  ,„„„,„,;««.  at  Magnoha, 

in  botli  places,  has  estaBUsncu       ^ 
for  the  reception  of  invalids  who  wish  to  spend 
in  a  southern  climate. 


320      MINERAL  AND  THERMAL  SPRINGS. 


CHAPTER  XYI. 

Mineral  nn.l  Thermal  Springs  between  the  IMississlppl 
and  Pacific  Ocean-Thermal  Spring  of  Fort  Laramie 
-Situation  of  the  fort-Soda  or  Sal  yEratus  Ponds- 
Beer  Springs  on  Bear  River-Their  situation  and  tern- 
perature-Analysis-IIiUocks  formed  by  the  waters 
-Steamboat  Spring-Vvhy  so  called-Properties  of  its 
^ater-Other  like  springs  adjolinng-Extinct  volcano 
near  the  Beer  Springs-Boiling  (Acidulous)  Springs  of 
Pike's  Peak— Analysis  of  Saline  accumulations  at  this 
spot— Temperature  of  the  water. 

MINERAL   AND  THERMAL   SPRINGS    BETWEEN 
THE  MISSISSIPPI  AND  THE  PACIFIC  OCEAN. 

The  vast  regions  extending  from  95°  W. 
long.,  or  from  tlie  western  limits  of  Iowa, 
Missouri  and  Arkansas,  to  the  Pacific  Ocean, 
are  remarkable,  among  other  great  natural 
traits,  for  the  number  and  variety  of  their 
mineral  and  thermal  springs.     Some  of  these 
are  in  the  territories  of  Nebraska,  Kansas,  and 
Kew  Mexico ;  many  in  Oregon,  and  in  Utah 
around  the  Great  Salt  Lake,  and  not  a  few 
in  California. 


ississippi 
Laramie 
;  Ponds— 
and  tem- 
le  waters 
:-ties  of  its 
ct  volcano 
Springs  of 
)ns  at  this 


ETWEEN 
3CEAN. 

95°  W. 
of  Iowa, 
ic  Ocean, 
,  natural 

of  their 
}  of  these 
,nsas,  and 
I  in  Utah 
not  a  few 


THERMAL  SPRING  OF  FORT  LAKAMIE.     321 

nermal  Spring  of  Fort  Laramie.-'Th\s 
J^.,  mentioned  by  Captains  ivremout  and 
Sansbury,in  tbeir  respective  narratives  i 
^Sed  in  a  narrow  defile,  being  the  bed 

rate.,  sbaded  by  V^^^f^::^^ 
™les  west  from  Eort  Laramie.  It  gushes  wun 
™„s  durable  noise  and  force  out  of  a  Ume- 
on    roek,  and  soon  forms  a  small  stream 
a  cd  Vam  Spring  Creek.     Temperature 
'7f   ^hicb  is  tbat  of  tbe  Sweet  Springs  in 
Virginia     The  land  about  here  is  table,  and 
liiTeLen  the  North  Fork  of  the  Platte, 
and  the  Laramie  Kivers 

Fort  Laramie  itself  is  m  1U4   *'     "  ' 

and  about  42°  15'  N.  lat.,  distant  one  and  a 
Talf  miles  from  thePlatte  Eiver,  at  the  end  of 
;lUmie  Yalley,  and  625  mi  cs  ^.om  ^ 

Joseph's,  on  the  western  hmits  of  il  ssour. 
's  in  the  southern  part  of  Nebraska,  and 
on  the  great  emigrant  route  to  Oregon  on 
rXjcted  line°of  the  Central  Railroad  to 

the  Pacific.  .     ^  i  „^.].o 

Ponds  of  Sal  y&«*»..-Still  m  Nebras^.. 

near  to  the  Oregon  line,  and  between  Eock 

Independence  on  the  east,  --f-^')^^^ 

the  west,  are  found  three  ponds,  on  extensive 


» 


I 


322      MIKERAL  AND  THERMAL  SPRINGS. 

salt  plains,  in  tlie  valley  of  the  Swot:  Wuter 
Eiver,   abovr    the    Devil's  Gate,   where  it 
breaks    through    the    mountains.     To  he 
more   specific,  it   ought    to    be    said,  that 
here  the  traveller  meets  with  saline  incrusta- 
tions, and  solutions  of  sesquicarbonate  of 
soda,  and  muriate  and  sulphate  of  soda,  in 
proportions  not  yet  determined.    These  salts 
thus  combined,  are  found  in  the  Natron  lakes 
of  Hungary,   Africa,   and   other  countries. 
The  chief  of  these  ponds  appeared  to  Cap- 
tain Stansbnry  as  if  frozen  over,  and  covered 
with  a  very  light  fall  of  drifting  snow.  It  was 
found  to  be  a  slight  depression  about  400 
yards  long,  by  150  in  width,  covered  with  an 
efflorescence  of  carbonate  of  soda,  left  by  the. 
evaporation  of  the  water  which  had  held  it 
in  solution.    This  substance  is  quite  abund- 
ant on  the  banks  of  the  river,  and  it  is  used 
by  the  emigrants  for  making  their  bread,  in 
preference  to  the  sal  asratus  of  the  shops. 

Soda  or  Beer  {Carbonated)  Sjjrings.— Con- 
tinning  on  the  great  emigrant  route  to  Ore- 
gon and  the  Pacific,  along  the  north  fork  ot 
Platte  Eiver,  and  having  passed  Rock  Inde- 


SOUTH  PASS. 


823 


Water 
ere   it 
ro   be 
d,  that 
crusta- 
late  of 
oda,  in 
se  salts 
n  lakes 
untries. 
to  Cap- 
covered 
,  It  was 
Dut  400 
with  an 
[t  by  the. 
held  it 
3  abund- 
;.  is  used 
3  read,  in 
;hops. 

js. — Con- 
3  to  Ore- 
1  fork  of 
ck  Inde- 


..rlencc  the  traveller  finds  himself  at  the 

'  te  tbrou  h  .vhieh  comrneree  an      ^^^^ 
L^  may  hereafter  pass  between   the  A^al 
;%rtle  Mississippi  and  the  IjorJ^^^^^^ 
L  »    Its  elevation  above  the  Gulf  of  Mex- 
is  imU  ana  its  ^vidth   20   miles. 
Si  .  dfstant  fr'om  the  mouth   of  Oregon 
S^er  about  UOO   miles,  by  the  eommon- 
fv  travelled  route,  it  may  be  assumed  to 
Ubo\.  half-way  between  the  «^^^^^^ 
A  f1.P  Pacific  Ocean,  still  on  this  route, 
i  tlSss  is  through  the  Wind  Kiver 
MountLs,   a  part  of  the  great  ravage  o 

Z  Kocky  Mountains  which  separate  the 
;lfstiing  into  the  Atlantic  fro.n  those 

that  find  .heir  way  into  '^' J.^''^'..^^,^^^ 
We  are  now  in  Oregon,  at  its  southeastern 
a„X  and  not  far  from  the  -rtl^ern  bound- 
'r^  of  Utah.    Were  a  direct  hu-  to  be  fo- 
ld northwest  from  the  Pass  it  wo^d  le  d^ 
at  a  distance  of  about  one  hundred  and  thuty 
miles,  to  the  remarkable  Beer  Spring  J  ol- 
lowin-  the  emigrant  route  and  tbat  ^aken  by 
kpt^nEremontand^Hsparty^;^^^^^^^^ 
far  south,  touchmg  on  the  i^reen  x 


:>  > 


324      MINERAL  AND  THEBMAL  SPE1KG3. 

distance  to  the  valley  of  Bear  lliver  is  185 
miles,  and  thence  to  tlic  springs  near  one 

hundred  more. 

The  Beer  S2ynngs  are  in  an  amphitheatre 
of  mineral  waters,  which  is  inclosed  by  the 
mountains  that  sweep  arou..d  a  circular  bend 
of  the  Bear  Elver,  at  its  most  northern 
point    in    the    territory  of   Oregon.    This 
stream,  which  so  far  had  pursued  a  north- 
era  course,  now  takes  a  southern  direction, 
and  ultimately  empties  into  the  Great  Salt 
Lake     We  shall  again  meet  with  it  in  our 
thermal  and  hydrological  tour  round  the 
lake     "  In  the  bed  of  the  river  for  a  space 
of  several  hundred  yards,  these  springs  are 
very  abundant ;  the  effervescing  gas  rising 
up  and  agitating  the  waters  in  countless  bub- 
bling colamns."   This  eftervescence  and  their 
acidulous  taste  caused  the  first  voyageurs  and 
trappers  to  call  them  Beer  Springs.    They 
were  often  half  hidden  by  tufts  of  grass, 
v/hich  Capt.  F.  and  his  party  amused  theni- 
selv3S  in  removing,  and  searching  about  for 
more  highly  impregnated  waters.    Some  o. 
th<>m  are  deep  and  of  various  sizes,  some- 


BEER  SPRING— ANALYSIS. 


'^.O 


o~0 


is  185 
ar  one 

tlieatre 
by  the 
ir  bend 
Drtbern 
.    This 
,  north- 
rection, 
eat  Salt 
\  ill  our 
md  the 

a  space 
ngs  are 
IS  rising 
.ess  bub- 
Hid  their 
;eurs  and 
5.    They 
Df  grass, 
ed  them- 
iboat  for 

Some  of 
es,  some- 


times  several  yards  in  diameter.    A  grove 
of  cedars  adjoins  the  springs.  ^ 

The  tern  .^srature  of  tlie  water  of  ti.e  largest 
,pn„gwas;atsanset,65°F.,atanelevaUon 

of  5,840  feet,  that  of  the  air  b«ing  02.  o  1. 
They  are  in  42°  40'  N.  lat.,  and  1U°  4b  W. 
Ion..  On  the  following  morning,  at  sunnse, 
the°temperature  of  the  same  water  was  o6  , 
hat  of  Ihe  air  being  28.°5  F.  An  analysis 
of  one  quart  of  water  of  the  Beer  Spring  a 

reported  in  Col.  Fremont's  Eeport,  yielded 
the  following  results :—  ^^  ^^ 

Sulphate  of  magnesia    . 

Sulphate  of  lime    . 

Carbonate  of  lime 

Carbonate  of  magnesia 

Chloride  of  calcium 

Chloride  of  magnesium 

Chloride  of  sodium 

Vegetable  extractive  matter 

20.84 

The  carbonic  acid  had  escaped  from  the 
water  before  the  analysis  was  made,  ihe 
proportion  of  the  gas  is  doubtless  very  con- 

^inpr'^^ble 

CaBtain  Fremont,  in  wandering  through  the 
cedar  grove  which  was  the  seat  oi  his  en- 


2.12 

3.86 

3.22 

.     1.33 

.     1.12 

t 
• 

•  • 

•  • 

.     0.85 

II 


326     MINERAL  AND  THERMAL  SPEIXGS. 

campment,  in  tlie  bot.om  towards  tlie  mouu- 
tain  noticed  saline  e.ftorescences,  and  a  num- 
ber of  re-ularly  shaped  and  very  remarkable 
hillocks."  These  latter  have  been  formed  by 
the  rrradual  deposit  from  the  waters  of  ex- 
tinct''springs,the  orifices  through  which  they 
found  issue  being  still  visible  at  the  summits. 
Some  of  them  resemble  funnel-shaped  cones. 
At  another  spot,  a  little  higher  up  the  mea- 
dow  he  saw  several  remarkable  white  and 
red  hillocks,  ^vhich  are  immediately  ou  a 
small  stream  that  flows  into  Bear  Eiver 
They  are  formed  like  the  ones  just  mentioned, 
but  the  openings  on  their  summits  were  much 
lar<rer,  so  as  to  resemble  miniature  craters, 
and  soraeof  them  were  several  feet  in  diaraetCT. 
At  the  foot  of  one  of  the  hUlocks,  or  rather 
on  its  side  near  the  base,  are  several  small 
limestone  columns,  about  one  foot  m  diame- 
ter at  the  base,  and  tapering  upwards  to  a 
heioht  of  three  or  four  feet.     On  the  summit 
the°  vator  is  seen  boiling  and  bubbling  up, 
and  constantly  adding  to  the  height  of  the 

little  columns.  '    •  •  •/  ^e  i\c. 

Sleamlmt  S2ynnrj.-ln  the  vicinity  of  t.ie 

Beer  Springs  were  numerous  other  ones  ot 


327 


moun- 
i  nuin- 
jkable 
ned  by 

of  ex- 
ill  tliev 
immits. 
1  cones. 
16  mea- 
ite  and 
y  on  a 
'  Eiver. 
ntioned, 
re  miicli 

craters, 
iameter. 
r  ratlier 
•al  small 
1  diame- 
rds  to  a 
3  summit 
bling  up, 
lit  of  the 

tv  of  tl\e 
r  ones  of 


na 


entire 


STEAMBOAT  SPKINCt. 

ay   difterent  and  equally   marked 
Inch  remind  us  of  the  Geysers, 


trX;Xn\:P^— --f^^^^^-^^- 
.In  the  vieinity  around  we  numerous 

,„,;n„,  of  an  entirely  different  and  equally 
:S  tea  character.  In  a  rather  picturesque 
Tpot  about  1,800  yards  below  our  encamp. 

Tnt,  and  immediately  on  the  nver  hank  ^s 

t,e  most  remarkable  spring  o.   the  pbc- 

Vrom  the  opening  in  the  rock,   a  whole 

in  of  scattered  water  is  thrown  up  m 

he  orm  of  a  jet  d^eau,  to  a  variable  height 
tneioiu  J  „r,d  thout'h  it  is  main- 

of  about  three  feet,  and  tnou  n 
tained   in  a  constant    supply,  its   greatest 
Sit  is  attained  only  at  regular  intervals 
wording  to  the  action  of  the  force  belo.. 

Ts  accompanied  by  a  subterranean.  « 
;vhich,  together  with  the  motion  of  the    ato 
make   very  much  the  impression  of  a  steam 
S  in  m'otion,  and  without  kno^.ng  tha 
it  had  been  previously  so  call  d,  w  e  gave 
to  it  the   name   of    the    Stecm.loat    Spnn^ 
The  rock  through  which  it  rs  forced  i   s  ight 
ly  raised  in  a  c.rved  manner,  and  a.  its 
iuth  presents  an  urn-like  ^PPC—  J 
is  evidently  formed  by  a  continued  deposit 


u 


323      MINEKAL  AND  THERMAL  SPRINGS. 


from 


he  water,  and  is  colored  brigM  by  os- 
ide  of  iron."  The  cliemical  composition  of 
tbe  water  may  be  inferred  from  that  of  the 
deposit,  an  analysis  of  which  is  subjomed.* 
This  is  a  thermal  spring.  Temperature  8< 
Y  "  The  water  has  a  pungent  and  disagree- 
able metallic  taste,  leaving  a  burning  effect 

on  the  tongue.  . 

"Within  perhaps  two  yards  of  the  jet  d^eau 
is  a  small  hole  of  about  an  inch  in  diameter, 
through  which,  at  regular  intervals,  escapes 
a  blast  of  hot  air,  with  a  light  wreath  o 
smoke,  accompanied  by  a  regular  noise. 
The  inhaling  of  this  vapor  (probably  carbonic 
acid  gas)  produces  a  sensation  of  giddiness 

and  nausea.  ,  •  j 

"  A  short  distance  above  the  spring,  and 
near  the  foot  of  the  same  spur,  is  a  very  re- 
markable colored  rock,  soft  and  friable,  con- 


*  Carbonate  of  lime 
Carbonate  of  magnesia 
Oxide  of  iron 
Silica 
Alumina, 
Water  and  Loss 


} 


92.55 
0.42 
1.05 

5.98 
100.00 


OTHER  HOT  SPRINGS. 


329 


.     •  niw  nf  carbonate  of  lime  and 

^tti'rSri'of  t.e  re Wcable  xed 

,11^!.  deviously  described,  close  to  tlie 

''K:^^nrV^ZoI  bad  Ws  attention  at- 

encampment  *  noi^e  around  ^vblca 

t,acted  by  a  subterr  ^^  ^^  ^^^^^^  ^^^  p^^. 

he  circled  '^epeatediy,  ^^^^^ .      ^^^ 

n^  KTlilTI'^  P-iously  hidden 
red  earth,  he  aiscov«  r  ^^^ 

,pri,g,wHd.wasbo^ngJ^^^^^^ 

,vater  has  the  same  ^^^^f^^^^.     In  some  of 
as  that  of  the  Steamboat  Spm       1^ 

rLt?o^'el-.    It  l^as  the  same  taste 

as  that  just  mentioned  ^^ 

A  little  higher  up  the  sma u 
-.,  previously  ^^^^^'^X^^^' 
f,,ed  by  stra^^.  <J;.-7,  ^iglt  metallic 
„>icaceous  basaUj^^^avm  B.^^^^.^^^  ^^ 

lustre  when  broken,    m  traveller  so 

Ap  foot  of  a  mountain  spur,  the  traveller 
tlietootoi  d,"         ■„,„:„„.  from  a  compact 
ofien  quoted,  saw  issuing  t'^"^/      J    j 
rook  of  a  dark  blue  color,  a  great  number 


iH 


330 


MINERAL  AND  THEBilAL  SPRINGS. 


sprino-s  having  tlie  same  pungent  and  disa- 
(Tveeable  metallic  taste  already  mentioned, 
and  tlie  water  of  which  was  collected  into  a 
very  remarkable  basin,  the  bottom  and  sides 
of  which  were  composed  of  an  interweaving 
of  mosses  three  or  four,  and  sometimes  ten  feet 
hi'rh  incrusted  and  cemented  by  the  calcareous 
dew'sit  from  the  water  itself.    The  basin  is, 
perhaps,  fifty  yards  in  circumference,  and 
three  or  four  feet  deep.    Below  this,  again, 
is  another  basin  of  very  clear  water,  and  ap- 
■parently  of  considerable  depth,  from  the  bot- 
tom of  which  gas  was  largely  evolved.    The 
overflowino-  water  was  collected  into  a  small 
stream,  which,  after  a  few  hundred  yards, 
sank  under  ground,  reappearing  among  the 
rocks  between  the  two  great  springs,  near 
the  river  into  which  it  flowed,  while  forming 

a  little  cascade. 

A  little  to  the  west  of  the  Beer  Spring  is  an 
isolated  hill,  terminated  by  "  a  very  perfect 
crater,  of  an  oval  or  nearly  circular  form, 
three  hundred  and  sixty  paces  in  circum- 
ference,  and  sixty  feet  at  its  greatest  depth. 
The  thin  and  stony  soil  of  the  plain  adjoin- 
in-   was  entirely  underlaid  by  the  basalt 


i  clisa- 
Llonecl, 
into  a 
d  sides 
eaviniT 

ten  feet 
3areoiis 
asin  is, 
ce,  and 
;,  again, 
and  ap" 
tlie  "bot- 
d.    The 
a  small 
i  yards, 
long;  the 
igs,  near 


ing  13  an 
y  perfect 
lar  form, 
L  circum- 
jst  depth. 
n  adjoin- 
[le  basalt 


CAKBONATED  SPRINGS  OF  PIKE's  PEAK.   331 

.vbicli  forms  the  walls  of  tlie  river,  distant 

two  miles. 

The  Carhonated  or  Boiling  Springs  of  Pihc's 
Peak  -If  from  tlie  mouth  of  the  Kansas,  at  In- 
dependence, in  Missouri,  wo  take  the  southern 
route  for  Oregon  and  California,  ^ve  soon 
come  to  Pike's  Peak,  after  passing  through 
Puebla.    Ten  miles  from  this  place  and  at 
L  foot  of  the  Peak,  break  out  the  Carbon- 
ated  or  Boiling  Springs,  near  the  head  o 
the    river    of    this    name.      They    ar.    at 
an  elevation  of  6,350  feet  -tove_the  ocean, 

ia  lat.  38°  52'  N.,  and  long.  10a    2i  ^  W  •, 
andaresituatedon  both  sides  of  the  rjver: 

on  one  side    ^^ere  are  two  difieront  local- 
ities in  which  tney  appear-an  upper  and  a 
lower.    Capt.  Fremont  describes  the  spot  and 
Ms  approach  to  it  in  the  following  terms  :--^ 
» I  came  suddenly  upon  a  large,  smooth 
rock  about  twenty  yards  in  diameter  where 
the  water  from  several  sprmgs  was  bubblmg 
and  boiling  up  in  the  midst  of  a  white  m- 

*  A  Report  of  the  E.plomsE^P^W'™  *»  "'»  ^°*^' 
Mouutuins  aua  to  Oregon  and  North  C.hfo.ma. 


332      MIKEEAL  AND  THERMAL  SPRINGS. 

crustation,  with  which  it  had  covered  a  por- 
tion  of  the  rock.    As  this  did  not  correspond 
with  a  description  given  me  by  the  hunters, 
I  did  not  stop  to  taste  the  water  but,  dis- 
mounting,  walked  a  little  way  np  the  nver 
already  become  a  torrent,  foaming  along,  and 
broken  by  a  small  fall.    A  deer  which  had 
been  drinking  at  the  spring,  was  startled  by 
my  approach,  and  springing  across  the  nver, 
bounded  oi?  up  the  mountain.    In  the  upper 
part  of  the  rock,  which  had,  -VV-reni\jM^ 
formed  by  deposition,  was  a  beautiful  white 
basTn  overhung  by  currant  bushes,  in  which 
thTcdd,  clear  water  bubbled  up,  in  constant 
mot  on  by  tl^e  escaping  gas,  and  overflowing 

To  rock,  which  it  had  almost  entirely  cover- 
ed  with  a  smooth  crust  of  ghstening  whi  e 

The  springs  on  the  opposite  side  of  the 
river  are  entirely  of  the  same  nature 

The  water  is  highly  carbonated,  and  ranks 
in  the  acidulous  class.  It  was  represented 
by  Mr.  Preuss,  a  companion  of  Capt  Fremont, 
to  resemble  very  much  that  of  the  famous 
Seltzer  Springs,  in  the  Grand  Duchy  of  Na. 
sau.  It  is  still  more  agreeable  than  that  of 
the  famous  Beer  Springs. 


ispond 
anters, 
at,  dis- 
i  river, 
ig,  and 
cTi  had 
tied  by 
e  river, 
3  upper 
ly,  been 
,1  white 
Q  •wbicb 
3onstant 
rflowing 
y  cover- 
;  wbite." 
3  of  the 


:» 
jt 


id  ranks 
iresented 
Fremont, 
I  famous 
y  of  Nas- 
,n  that  of 


INCBUSTED  MATTER. 


333 


The  incrustation  witli  Avbicb  tbe  water 
J  covered  a  piece  of  wood  lying  on  the 
i  Jas  composed  of  tbe  foUowmg  salm. 
substances:— 


Carbonate  of  lime 
Carbonate  of  magnesia 
Sulphate  of  lime  | 

Chloride  of  calcium        \ 
Cliloride  of  magnesium  J 

Silica  .         •         •         • 

Vegetable  matter 
Moisture  and  loss 


,    02.25 
,      1.21 

,        .23 

.  1.50 
.  .20 
.      4.01 

100.00 


The  temperature/early  ia  the  morning, 
TulY  19th,  of  tbe  lower  spring  was  o7.  «, 
July  J.»^"i  „,.F;Aoa-p     Oathepre- 

and  that  of  the  upper  54.  6^.    u  i 

cedinc.  day,  when  the  temperature  of  the  mr 
wt  7°3=l  that  of  the  two  sprmgs  m  the 
,au  was,  respectively,  60.°5,  and  69  F. 


iiii' 


33-i      5U^•EEAL  AKD  THERMAL  SPRINGS. 


I'-!  , 


CHAPTER  XVII. 

S„i„„.  i„  Utah  ana  around  the  Great  Salt  Lake-S„l- 
'1,.;  Springs  of  Bitter  Creek-City  ot    be  Groat  So^^t 
V  ue-lts  Situation-Copious  supply  of  ,.atev-C,ty 
^Varm  Sulphur  Spring-Hot  Spring-Warm  Founams 
L!Z  Cha  ybeate  Red  Springs-Analysis  o  then- depo- 
sit-Bear  lUver  Hot  Spring-Salt  and  Sulphur  Sprmgs 
!^Thermal  and  Saline  Springs-Spr.ng  ^1  ley    a 
Tl'mal  Saline  Springs-Warm  Springs  ot  Lake  Utah 
_^Yater  of  the  Great  Salt  Lake. 

MINERAL  AND  THERMAL   SfRINGS  NEAR  THE 
GREAT.  SALT  LAKE  m  UTAH. 

ON  tlie  route  from  the  east  tlirougli  Utab, 
the  traveller  meets  with  two  Sulphur  Spungs. 
These  are  near  a  fork  of  Bitter  Creek     Ar- 
rived at  the  lake,  we  will  suppose  h,m  to 
visit  the  Mormon  city  of  the  Great  Salt  Lake, 
the  capital  of  what  its  people  call  Deseret,  we 
Utah.    Situated  as  the  Mormons  are,  m  a  re- 
.rion  of  thermal  springs,  we  may  expect  to 
lee  them  imitate  the  Turks  and  other  oncata 
nntions  in  the  number  of  their  baths,  and 


GllEAT  SALT  LAKE  CITY. 


oo  re 


35 


,  .    r.ndness  for  tliermal  batliing,  as  ibey 
t::lS^--eat.en.int.e.l.Msor 

ltrG;cat  Salt  Lake  City,  as  desoribed 

i,    .       ^tonsburv  *  is  nine  miles  south- 

'y  'TTlf  S   a3  between   it  and  the 

,  eurve  formed  ^J^J^  .^^^^^^,^^„  m  a 

the  ma,n  range     ^1  is  city  ^^^^  .^ 

is  ^vashed  by  t^^^"  !'^;^.^^,ty-five  miles,  ex- 

'"  ?°  r^^X;i  P  a    ,  waLcd  by  several 
tends  a  broad  level  g    ,       .        ^^^^^    ^^^^ 

1>"1^^    ^'?.T  '  Jm  the   .reat  elements  of 
eastern  hills,   form  tiie   ,       ry^       „^,   the 

,,1    ^f  tlip  community.      inio"o 
wealth  ot  the  couu  -tream  of  pure 

city  itself  ilowsan  ^^^^  mol  of 
^^^■^^^^■"TS;  ^  t^ave^se  each  side  of 
""^''T  'c^  Xence  it  is  led  into  every  gar- 
den  spot,  spreauiuo        ' 

*E.Famon  to  the  Great  Salt  Uke. 


336 


MINERAL  AND  THERMAL  SPRINGS. 


beauty  over  what  was  heretofore  a  barren 
waste. 

City  Warm  Sulphur  /S/^rm^/.— Already  tlie 
water  of  this  spring,  which  issues  from  a 
mountain  on  the  northern  confines  of  the 
city,  has  been  conducted  by  pipes  into  a  com- 
modious bathing-house  for  the  use  of  the  in- 
habitants. 

The  water  is  sulphureous,  being  strongly 
impregnated  with  sulphuretted  hydrogen. 
The  solid  contents,  after  evaporation,  were  a 
very  minute  proportion  of  chloride  of  calci- 
um, ciirbonates  of  lime  and  magnesia,  and 
sulphate  of  soda,  with  only  one  per  cent. 
of  chloride  of  sodium. 

Hot  Spring.— At  the  western  point  of  the 
same  spur  of  the  mountain  just  noticed, 
three  miles  distant,  another  spring  flows  in  a 
bold  stream  from  beneath  a  perpendicular 
rock,  with  a  temperature  of  128°  F.,  too  high 
to  admit  of  the  immersion  of  the  hand.  At 
the  base  of  the  hill  it  forms  a  little  lake, 
which  in  the  autumn  and  winter,  is  covered 
with  large  flocks  of  water-fowl,  attracted  by 
the  genial  atmosphere  of  the  water.  Its 
specific  gravity  is  very  slightly  more  than 


GS. 

a  barren 

3acly  tlie 
from  a 
s  of  the 
0  a  com- 
f  the  in- 

strongly 
^drogen. 
;  were  a 
of  calci- 
sia,  and 
er  cent. 

t  of  the 
noticed, 
)ws  in  a 
idicular 
00  high 
id.  At 
e  lake, 
covered 
ited  by 
r.  Its 
e  than 


WARM  FOUNTAINS  AND  HOT  SPRINGS.     337 

that  of  distilled  water.  Tbe  solid  contents 
in  one  hundred  pints  were  1.1454.  It  con- 
tains, as  we  learn  from  Dr.  Gale,  chloride  of 
sodium,  one  in  a  hundred  parts,  and  shows 
traces  of  chlorides  of  magnesium  and  of  cal- 
cium,  carbonate  and  sulphate  of  lime  and  silica: 
these  last  two  in  the  same  proportion. 

Warm  Fountains. — On  the  eastern  side  of 
the  lake,  near  the  city,  between  the  latter  and 
the  Hot  Spring,  are,  Lieutenant  Gunnison 
tells  us,  numerous  warm  fountains,  which  de- 
posit gypsum,  and  other  sulphates.  These 
waters  give  delightful  baths,  but  they  destroy 
the  fertility  of  the  soil. 

Hot  Chalybeate  Bed  Springs.— ThiTtj-fovLV 
miles  north  of  the  city,  these  springs  issue  from 
the  spur  of  a  mountain  range  on  the  east 
side  of  the  lake,  and  between  Ogden  City 
on  the  south,  and  Bright  Creek  on  the 
north.  To  the  east  of  them  is  the  mountain 
range.  The  Eed  Springs  derive  their  name 
from  the  iron  which  they  deposit,  and  whicli 
colors  the  ground  with  a  deep  crimson.  Salt 
fiats  extend  from  the  lake  to  this  point. 

These  are,  most  probably,  the  springs  of 
\vh\oh    Fremont   soeaks,   as   follows:    "In 
29 


l 


ill    iV:^^^B 

PI  ''iH 


I 


338      MINERAL  AND  THERMAL  SPRINGS. 

about  seven  miles  from  Clear  Creek,  the  trail 
brought  us  to  a  place  at  the  foot  of  the  moun- 
tain, where  there  issued,  with  considerable 
force,  ten  or  twelve  hot  springs,  highly  im- 
pregnated with  salt.    In  one  of  them  the  ther- 
mometer stood  at  136°,  and  in  another  at 
132°  5'  F.,  and  the  water  which  spread  in 
pools  over  the  low  ground,  was  colored  red." 
(p.  150.)    At  the  time  of  this  adventurous 
traveller's  visit,  there  was  no  city,  no  habit- 
ation, nor  the  voice  of  a  single  civilized  being 
to  be  heard  on  the  shores  of  the  Great  Lake ; 
so  that  we  derive  no  aid  by  bearings  from 
the  city  of  any  of  the  springs  which  he  de- 
scribes, as  is  the  case  with  some  of  those 
noticed  by  Stansbury  and  Gunnison. 

Fremont  furnishes  an  analysis  of  the  red 
earthy  matter  deposited  in  the  bed  of  the 
stream  made  by  the  springs,  which  gave  the 
following  result : — 

Grains. 

33.50 
2.40 

50.43 
2.00 
3.45 
3.00 
5.22 


Peroxide  ot  iron . 
Carbonate  of  magnesia 
Carbonate  of  lime 
Sulphate  of  lime 
Chloride  of  sodium 
Silica  and  alumina 
V/ater  and  loss 


100.00 


le  trail 
moun- 
ierable 
lily  im- 
be  tlier- 
tber  at 
read  in 
3d  red." 
titurous 
)  habit- 
id  being 
t  Lake ; 
^s  from 
.  he  de- 
•f  those 

the  red 
1  of  the 
^ave  the 

Grains. 

33.50 
2.40 

50.43 
2.00 
3.45 
3.00 
5.22 

100.00 


BEAR  RIVER  SPRINGS.  339 

Bear  River  Hot  and  Warm  Sprmgs.--V:^^r 
the  Bear  Kiver,  and  within  a  few  feet  of  eacli 
other,  are  springs  whicli  Gunnison  dcsenbes 
as  is  uing  between  different  strata  ot  con- 
.Uerate  and  limestone.     One  of  tliem  is  a 
hot  .ulphnr,the  second  war.i^  and  salt,  and  the 
tbird  cool,  drinkable  uater.    They  issue  at 
he  foot  of  a  flanking  terrace  of  hills  twelve 
„,iies  below  the  "  gates,"  where  the  Bear 
Biver  breaks  througli  the  Wahsatck  range; 
and  they  have  excavated  for  th^n^se  ves  a 
circular  pool,  fifteen  feet  deep,  with  slopin, 
sides,  and   a  deep  channel  leadmg  mo  a 
meadow.    At  numerous  places  fine  salt  is 
brought  up  and  jets  of  gas  are  emitted.     1  h. 
salt  forms  an  incrustation  around  tAC  pool, 
and  is  pure  enough  for  table  use.^  ^ 

These  are,  it  seems  to  me,  the  same  her- 
nial springs  noticd  by  Fremont  (p.  lo9) 
when  he  ascended  for  a  Bbort  distance  the 

valley  of  Bear  Eiver,  from  the  lake.       Con- 
tinuing," ^^e  says,  "  aWg  tlie  foot  of  these 

hills,  in  the  afternoon  we  found  five  or  six 

*  Lieut.  Gunnison-Report  to  Captain  Stansbury,  ia 
"  Expedition  to  the  Great  Salt  Lake." 


m 


340     MINERAL  AND  THEEMAL  SPRINGS. 

hot  springs  gushing  out  together,  beneath  a 
conglomerate,  consif.ting  principally  of  frag- 
ments  of  a  giayish-blue  limestone,  efflores- 
cing a  salt  upon  the  surface.  The  tempera- 
ture of  these  springs  was  134°  F.,  and  the 
rocks  in  the  bed  were  colored  with  a  red  de- 
posit, and  there  was  common  salt  crystalHzed 
on  the  margin.  There  was,  also,  a  white  in- 
crustation Tipon  leaves  and  roots,  consisting 
principally  of  carbonate  of  lime."  Lat.  41° 
42'  N.,  long.  112°  05'  W. 

Salt  and  Sulphur  /Spnn^s.— Numerous  salt 
and  sulphur  springs  break  out  from  the  bank 
of  the  southern  extremity  of  the  rocky 
range  where  it  juts  into  the  northern  e^d  of 
the  lake.  The  strata  here  are  contorted,  and 
in  some  places  nearly  perpendicular. 

Thermal  Saline  >§9m^5.— Stan sbury  speaks 
of  what  he  calls  a  Warm  Saline^  of  74°  F., 
breaking  out  from  the  mountain,  at  the  prai- 
rie on  the  northern  end  of  the  lake,  and 
of  another  so-called  Warm  Spring^  with  a 
temperature  of  84°  F.  Independently  of  the 
common  mistake  of  designating  as  warm  any 
spring  the  water  of  which  is  at  a  sensibly 
higher  temperature  than  that  of  the  common 


.  ^1    '- 


eatli  a 
f  frag- 
ifflores- 
mpera- 
nd  the 
red  de- 
jallized 
hite  in- 
isistiiig 
jat.  41° 

ous  salt 
le  bank 
rocky 
L  e!3d  of 
ted,  and 

T  speaks 

he  prai- 
ke,  and 
witli  a 
y  of  the 
irm  any 
sensibly 


common 


13 


pedi 
fact 


THERMAL  SALINE  SPRINGS,  341 

of  tlie  region  of  country  in  wbicli  it 
a,  the  lead3r  and  authors  of  the  "  Ex- 
n"  may  find  a  natural  excuse  in  the 
lac,  .uat  when  they  made  their  obseryations, 
be  tem-perature  of  the  air  was  30»  F.,  or  two 
degrees  below  freezing  point.    It  may  easily 
be  conceived,  therefore,  that  persons  engaged 
in  a  survey,  with  their  fingers  co  d,  if  not 
benumbed  by  the  frosty  air,  should  expen- 
ence  a  grateful  sensation  approaching  to  that 
of  warmth,  by  immersion  of  these  members 
in  water  at  84"  and  even  74°  F. 

The  whole  western  shore  ot  the  Salt  baie 
is  bounded  by  an  immense  level  plain,  con- 
sisting  of  soft  mud,  ofte-  partially  traversed  by 
small  meandering  rillsof  salt  and  sulphureous 
water,  and  occasionally  by  springs  of  fresh 
water,  all  of  which  sink  into  the  earth  or 
are  absorbed  and  evaporated  before  they 
reach  the  lake.    There  are  Salt  Pools  near 

Deer  Creek.  . 

Spring  Vailey-T'iermal  Saline  Spnngs-- 
-On  the  western  side  of  the  mountam  which 
extends  in  a  southerly  direction,  from  near 
the  south  end  of  the  Salt  Lake,  and  at  the 
ed-e  of  the  prairie,  are  springs  so  numerous 

29* 


u 


lh|a||mniju| 


842      MINERAL  AND  THERMAL  SPRINGS. 


as  to  give  a  name  to  the  valley.  They  are 
all  saline.  Temperature  74°  F.  Near  the 
northern  point  of  the  mountain  is  a  very 
large  spring,  which  discharges  its  waters 
into  the  lake.  The  water  was  very  salt, 
nauseous,  and  bitter,  with  a  temperature  of 
70°  F.,  notwithstanding  which  it  swarmed 
with  innumerable  small  fish,  and  seemed  to 
be  a  favorite  resort  for  pelicans  and  gulls. 

Near  Spring  Yalley,  on  the  east, but  separa- 
ted from  it  by  mountain  ridges,  is  Tuilla  Val- 
ley, as  it  is  called  by  the  Mormons.  Here  is 
excellent  pasturage  for  numerous  herds  of 
cattle,  which  are  wintered  under  the  charge 
of  keepers. 

Warm  Springs  of  Lake  Utah, — Near  to  the 
junction  of  the  Kiver  Jordan  with  the  lake 
are  warm  springs. 

Water  of  the  Great  Salt  Lake. — This  water 
has  been  examined  by  Dr.  Gale  (Washington 
City).  It  was  perfectly  clear,  and  had  a  spe- 
cific gravity  of  1.170,  water  being  1.000. 
One  hundred  parts,  by  weight,  evaporated  to 
dryness  in  a  sand  bath,  gave  of  solid  contents 
22.422,  consisting  of  chloride  of  sodium 
20.196,  sulphate  of  soda  1.834,  chloride  of 


ley  are 
jar  the 
a  very 
waters 
y  salt, 
,ture  of 
rarmed 
med  to 
ulls. 
separa- 
lla  Val- 
Here  is 
erds  of 
charge 


THE  WATER  OF  GREAT  SALT  LAKE.      343 

maf^nesiam   0.252,    chloride  of   calcium,   a 

trace. 

The  water  of  this  lake  is  declared  by  Dr. 
Gale  to  be  one  of  the  purest  and  most  con- 
centrated brines  in  the  world.  The  strongest 
of  the  salines  in  the  state  of  New  York — that 
of  Syracuse — contains  17.35  per  cent,  of 
chloride  of  sodium. 


'  to  the 
le  lake 

s  water 
lington 
I  a  spe- 
1.000. 
•ated  to 
ontents 
sodium 
ride  of 


344     MINERAL  AND  THERMAL  SPRINGS. 


CHAPTEE  XYIII. 

Fort  Hall — American  Falls  of  Snake  River — Fishing  Falls 
— Hot  Springs — Malheur  River  Hot  Springs — Soda  and 
Salt  Plain — Hot  and  Warm  Springs  of  Fall  River- 
Hot  Springs  of  Pyramid  Lake — Springs  of  California 
— Hot  Spring  of  Shasty  Peak — Acidulo-Chalybeate 
Spring  of  Shasty  Peak — Volcanic  Springs — Earth- 
quake—  Spouting  Springs — Hot  Sulphur  Springs  — 
Springs  of  New  Mexico — Ojo  Caliente. 

Taking  the  Beer  Springs  as  his  point 
of  departure,  the  emigrant  or  traveller, 
who  is  bound  for  the  mouth  of  the  Co- 
lumbia Kiver,  will  proceed  in  a  north- 
westerly direction  to  Fort  Hall,  a  distance  of 
fifty  miles.  The  fort  is  in  a  rich  valley,  21 
miles  long,  near  the  confluence  of  the  Pont 
Neuf  Eiver  with  Snake  Kiver,  or,  as  it  is 
often  called,  Lewis's  Fork  of  the  Columbia, 
which  takes  place  about  nine  miles  below  the 
fort.  Before  long,  in  continuing  down  the 
valley  of  Snake  Eiver,  we  come  to  the  Ame- 
rican Falls.    The  river,  which  just  above  was 


^lim 


HOT  SPRINGS. 


345 


870  yards,  or  nearly  half  a  mile  wide,  is 
here  narrowed  in  the  form  of  a  lock,  by  jutting 
piles  of  scoriaceous  basalt,  breaking  over  which 
the  foaming  waters  must  present  a  grand  ap- 
pe^france  after  heavy  rains.   Along  the  whole 
line  of  the  course  of  the  river,  from  some 
distance  above  the  falls,  to  the  Dalles  of  the 
Lower  Colambia,  its  bed  resembles  a  chasm 
■which  had  been  made  by  subterranean  vio- 
lence, and  which  seems  to  have  directed  the 
course  of  the  waters  flowing  in  this  direc- 
tion.     The  next   natural  curiosity  on  the 
route  is  the  bursting  out  of  a  subterranean 
river  from  the  face  of  an  escarpment,  and  its 
fall,  in  a  white  foam,  into  the  larger  Snake 
Kiver  below.    After  this  comes  the  Fishing 
Falls,  "a  series  of  cataracts,  with  very  in- 
chned  planes,  which  are  probably  so  named 
because  they  foim  a  barrier  to  the  ascent  of 
the  salmon;  and  the  great  fisheries,  from 
which  the  inhabitants  of  this  barren  region 
almost  entirely  derive  a  subsistence,  begin  at 
this  place."    Fifty  to  sixty  miles  farther,  in 
a  northwesterly  direction,  or  about  230  miles 
from  Fort  Hall,  we  come  to  a  group  of 
Hot  Springs. — The  temperature  of  the  wa- 


i*  1 


u 


¥■ 

"a 


At 


m-:m. 


846      MINERAL  AND  THERMAL  SPRINGS. 

ter  was  164°  F.  "The  rocks  were  covered 
with  a  red  and  white  incrustation,  and  the  wa- 
ter produces  on  the  tongue  the  same  unpleasant 
effect  as  that  of  the  Basin  Spring,  on  Bear 
Kiver.  The  springs  have  several  issues,  mid 
bubble  up  with  force  enough  to  raise  the 
small  pebbles  several  inches." 

The  following  is  an  analysis  of  the  de- 
posit with  which  the  rocks  are  incrusted  :— 


Silica 

Carbonate  of  lime 

Carbonate  of  magnesia 

Oxide  of  iron       .        . 

Alumina 

Chloride  of  sodium,  &c. 

Sulphate  of  soda 

Sulphate  of  lime,  &c. 

Organic  vegetable  matter 

Water  and  loss 


72.55 

14.60 

1.20 

4.65 

0.70 


}• 


} 


1.10 


5.20 


100.00 


In  the  expulsive  force  with  which  the  water 
is  ejected,  and  in  the  composition  of  the  sub- 
stances held  in  solution,  we  see,  at  this  spot, 
phenomena  closely  analogous  to  those  mani- 
fes'e  A  by  the  Iceland  springs. 

The  road  before  reaching  the  springs  was 
extremely  rocky,  and  exhibited  hard  volca- 


MALHEUR  RIVER  SPRINGS. 


847 


nic  fragments ;  and  the  rocks  at  the  foot  of 
the  ridge  near  to  which  they  issue  have  the 
appearance  of  a  reddish-brown  trap,  frag- 
ments of  which  were  scattered  along  the 
road  from  the  springs.  The  ridge  here  men- 
tioned is  probably  a  spur  from  the  Salmon 
Eiver  range,  and  is  about  five  miles  north  of 
the  Snake  Eiver,  in  lat.  42°  10'  K.,  and  long. 
115°  10'  W. 

Malheur  Eiver  Hot  Springs. — At  a  travel- 
led distance  of  about  120  miles,  in  a  north- 
westerly direction  from  the  Hot  Springs,  last 
mentioned,  we  come  to  these  in  lat.  44°  17'  N., 
and  long.  117°  W.  I  have  designated  them 
after  the  name  of  the  river  {Rivihe  aux  Mai- 
heurs\  on  the  low  bank  of  the  right  side  of 
which  they  are  situated.  They  are  numerous, 
and  have  the  very  high  temperature  of  193° 
F.  "  The  ground,  which  was  too  hot  for  the 
naked  feet,  was  covered  above  and  below  the 
springs  with  an  incrustation  of  common  salt, 
very  white,  and  good  and  fine  grained.  Ele- 
vation above  the  sea,  1,880  feet. 

Soda  and  Salt  Plain. — On  approaching  the 
Blue  !^^ountains,  in  his  journey  west,  Fremont 
met  Wioh  "the  bed  of  a  dry  salt  lake  or  marsh, 


V 


348      MINERAL  AND  THERMAL  SPRINGS. 

very  firm  and  bare,  and  which  was  covered 
thickly  with  a  fine  white  powder,  containing 
a  large  quantity  of  carbonate  of  soda  (thirty- 
three  in  a  hundred  parts)." 

The  next  hot  springs  to  be  mentioned  in 
Oregon  are  west-northwest  of  the  last  men- 
tioned group  on  Malheur  Eiver,  and  separat- 
ed from  them  by  four  degrees  of  longitude. 
These  two  groups  of  springs  are  on  opposite 
sides  of  the  Great  Basin,  Desert  some  call  it, 
which  has  an  elevation  above  the  sea  of  four 
to  five  thousand  feet,  and  is  surrounded  by 
lofty  mountains.  It  is  believed,  says  Col. 
Fremont,  to  be  filled  with  rivers  and  lakes 
which  have  no  communication  with  the  sea; 
deserts  and  oases  which  have  never  been  ex- 
plored, and  savage  tribes  which  no  traveller 
has  seen  or  described. 

The  distance  in  a  direct  line,  from  the 
Springs  of  Malheur  Eiver,  on  the  east,  to 
those  of  Fall  Eiver  now  to  be  mentioned  on 
the  west,  is  about  two  hundred  miles ;  but  the 
traveller's  route,  that  taken  by  Fremont  in  his 
journey  of  exploration,  was  much  longer,  and, 
of  course,  more  circuitous,  viz :  north  along 
the  mountains  to  the  Columbia  Eiver,  down  it 


J. 

overed 
taininff 
(thirty. 

)ned  in 
it  men- 
separat- 
igitude. 
pposite 
I  call  it, 
of  four 
ded  by 
ys  Col. 
d  lakes 
he  sea; 
een  ex- 
raveller 

om  the 
east,  to 
)ned  on 
but  the 
it  in  his 
;er,  and, 
h  along 
down  it 


SPRINGS  OF  FALL  RIVER. 


849 


to  near  the  Falls  and  the  Cascade  Eange,  and 
up  the  Fall  Eiver,  skirting  this  range  in  a 
southerly  course,  until,  coming  on  a  tributary- 
stream,  he  found  the 

Hot  cmd  Warm  Springs  of  Fall  River.— 
They  are  on  both  sides  of  the  branch  of  the 
Fall  Eiver,  in  about  lat.  44°  40'  N.,   and 
long.  121°  5'  W.    Those  on  the  left  bank, 
whkjh   were    formed   into   deep   handsome 
basins,  would,  in  a   more  genial  air  thau 
that  which  the    travellers  were  then    en- 
countering, make  delightful  baths.      Their 
temperature  was  89°  F.    The  others  on  the 
opposite  side  of  the  stream,  at  the  foot  of  an 
escarpment,  were  134°  F.    These  waters  de- 
posited  around  the  spring  a  brecciated  mass 
of  quartz  and  feldspar,  much  of  it  of  a  red- 
dish color.    From  near  this  spot,  on  an  ele- 
vated plain,  a  view  is  obtained  of  six  great 
peaks;  the  first  being  Mount  Jefferson,  on 
the  Cascade  Eange.     The  whole  of  this  re- 
gion exhibits  strongly  marked  volcanic  fea- 
tures. 

Following  up,  in  nearly  a  due  south  course, 
the  Fall  Eiver,  and  sometimes  crossing  its 
branches,  the  travellers  reached  a  savannah 
30 


B!'     ! 


350      MINERAL  AND  THERMAL  SPRINGS. 


or  grassy  meadow,  called  Lake  Tlamath  or 
Klamet,  through  which  flows  a  river  of  the 
same  name  to  the  ocean.    After  the  meltings 
of  snow  from  the  neighboring  mountains,  the 
surface  of  the  lake  is  partly  studded  with  ponds 
and  marshes,  which  are  dried  up  on  the  ap- 
proach of  warm  weather.  Thence  the  road  was 
to  the  head  waters  of  the  Sacramento  Eiver, 
which  empties  into  the  Bay  of  San  Francisco, 
and  across  the  Winter  Eidge  to  the  Summer 
Lake.     Still  continuing  their  course,  in  a 
southerly  direction,  along  the  eastern  base  of 
the  Sierra  Nevada  range,  Fremont  and  his 
party,  sometimes  in  the  mountains,  sometimes 
skirting  them,  met  with  a  succession  of  lakes, 
from  Abort  to  Mud  Lakes,  with  Christmas 
one    intervening.    Between   Mud    and  the 
next  and  larger   lake,  called  Pyramid,  are 
seen,  to  use  the  words  of  Fremont,  "the  most 
extraordin'  ry  locality  of  hot  springs  we  have 
met  during  the  journey."     I  shall  give  his 
description  of  them  under  the  title  of  the 

Hot  Springs  of  Pyramid  Lalce. — "  The  basin 
of  the  largest  one  has  a  circumference  of 
several  hundred  feet,  but  there  is  at  one  ex- 
tremity a  circular  spot  of  about  fifteen  feet 


HOT  SPRINGS  OF  PYRAMID  LAKE.       351 

in  diameter,  entirely  occupied  by  tlic  boiling 
water.    It  boils  up  at  irregular  intervals  and 
with  much  noise.     The  water  is  clear,  and 
the  spring  deep ;  a  pole  about  sixteen  feet 
long  was  easily  immersed  in  the  centre,  but 
it  gave  no  evidence  of  the  depth.    It  was 
surrounded  on  the  margin  with  a  border  of 
green  grass,  and  near  the  same  the  tempera- 
ture was  206^  F.    By  agitating  the  water 
with  the  pole,  the  temperature  at  the  margin 
was  increased  to  208°  F.,  and  in  the  centre 
was  doubtless  higher.    By  driving  the  pole 
towards  the  bottom,  the  water  was  made  to 
boil  np  with  increased  force  and  noise.  There 
are  several  other  interesting  places  where 
water  and  smoke  or  gas  escape.    The  water 
is  impregnated  with  common  salt,  but  not  so 
much  as  to  render  it  unfit  for  general  cook- 
ing,  and  a  mixture  of  snow  made  it  pleasant 
to  drink."^ 

*  There  are  very  few  hot  springs  on  the  earth's  sur- 
face which  exhibit  as  elevated  a  temperature  as  these 
boiling  springs  described  by  Capt.  Fremont.  Arago  says 
that  the  hottest  in  Europe,  unconnected  with  modern 
volcanic  action,  are  those  at  Chaudes  Aigues,  in  Au- 
vergne,  whose  temperature  is  176°  F. ;  and  the  hottest 


i 


352      MINERAL  AND  THERMAL  SPRINGS. 

These  springs  are  in  Utali  near  its  western 
limits.  In  the  immediate  neighborhood,  the 
valley  bottom  is  covered  almost  exclusively 


connected  with  modern  volcanic  action  are,  according  to 
Forbes,  the  Baths  of  ''''ero  (at  Baise,  in  the  Bay  of  Na- 
ples), which  rise  to  176°  F. 

In  Iceland,  the  surface  of  the  water  of  the  Great  Gey- 
ser is  185°  ;  the  bottom  at  the  dopth  of  72  feet  is  2G0°  F. 
The  neighboring  Stokkr  is  212°  F.,  or  boiling  point,  at 
the  surface,  and  237°.  5  at  the  depth  of  15  feet.  The 
temperature  of  the  water  of  the  Littie  Geysers,  or  inter- 
mitting spouting  springs  of  Reikum,  is  212°  F.  Next  to 
these  are  the  hot  springs  of  Reikia\ik,  the  cfipital  of 
Iceland,  which  are  188°  F.  At  St.  Michael's,  in  the 
Azores,  the  pool  of  Caldeira  is  203°  F.  Among  the  many 
thermal  springs  and  lakes  of  N«?t  Zealand,  there  are 
some  of  the  former  as  high  as  200  to  210°  F.  In  one  of 
the  Fidji  Islands,  at  the  Waicama,  or  hot  springs,  near  the 
Boa  shore,  the  water  is  200  ^o  210°  F.  In  the  island  of 
Amsterdam,  in  the  Indian  Ocean,  a  large  basin  is  formed 
by  a  hot  spring,  the  water  of  which  is  at  the  boiling 
point,  or  212°  F.  Of  the  same  temperature,  on  the  au- 
thority of  Thunberg,  are  the  Sulphureous  Hot  Springs  of 
Ussina,  in  Niphon,  one  of  the  isl  ids  which  constitute 
the  empire  of  Japan. 

But,  on  the  continent  of  the  eastern  hemisphere,  if  we 
except  two  or  th.oG  in  Ilindostan  and  Thibet,  there  are 
no  hot  springs  of  a  temperature  closdy  approaching  to 
that  of  the  "Boiling  Springs"  of  Utah.  In  our  own 
hemisphere,  there  are  only  two  in  Mexico  (each  at  205° 


CALIFORNIA  SPRINGS. 


353 


3. 

western 
od,  the 
iisively 

ording  to 
y  of  Na- 

'eat  Gey- 
s  200'=  F. 
point,  at 
et.  The 
or  inter- 
Next  to 
fipital  of 
3,  in  the 
the  many 
there  are 
In  one  of 
,  near  the 
island  of 
is  formed 
e  boiling 
I  the  au- 
prings  of 
ionstitute 

sre,  if  we 
there  are 
Lching  to 
our  own 
h  at  205° 


with  dienopodiaceous  shrubs,  of  greater 
luxuriance  and  larger  growth  than  hac"  been 
seen  in  any  preceding  part  of  the  journey. 

Pyramid  Lake  is  a  short  distance  only  from 
the  Boiling  Springs  just  noticed.  This,  after 
descending  from  the  pass,  broke  upon  the 
eyes,  a  sheet  of  green  water. 

In  North  or  Upi^er  California,  to  the  west  of 
the  Sierra  Nevada,  which  is  a  continuation 
of  the  Cases  de  Eange,  and  at  the  foot  of  the 
Shasty  Peak,  is  the 

Hot  Spring  of  Shasty  Pea^.— The  water  is 
described  by  Mr.  Jas.  Dana,  in  his  Contribu- 
lion  to  the  History  of  the  Expedition  by 
Captain  Wilkes,  to  be  hot  enough  to  boil  eggs. 
The  region  around  is  volcanic,  and  the  Peak, 

F  ),  and  one  in  the  island  of  St.  Lucia,  in  the  West  In- 
dies, at  203°  F.,  wbicli  come  near  to  their  line  of  elevated 

temperature.  .      ,     .    i.  xi, „ 

From  what  we  know  of  the  increasing  heat  of  the  wa- 
ters of  the  Geysers  and  Stokkr  below  the  surface  of  the 
spring,  and  the  actual  temperature  at  the  maigm  of  the 
basin  of  the  Boiling  Springs,  we  cannot  have  any  aoubt 
thai  the  water  in  the  centre  of  the  latter  does  really,  not 
figuratively,  boil  up;  and  that  its  temperature  at  his 
spot  is  fully  212°  F.,  making  it  equal  to  the  hottest 
known  8T>rin23  in  any  other  part  of  the  world. 

30^ 


it  I 


%' 


tj 


85 i      MINERAL  AND  THERMAL  SPRINGS. 


rising  to  the  lieiglit  of  12,000  to  14,000  feet, 
with  its  bare  cone  and  two  summits,  may  be 
regarded  as  an  extinct  volcano.  The  spring 
is  described  as  boiling  up  among  the  rocks  to 
the  height  of  two  or  three  feet,  and  as  it  runs 
off  in  a  small  stream,  it  has  worn  the  rocks 
smooth,  and  formed  a  small  basin  below 
which  is  much  frequented  by  the  mountain 
sheep. 

Acidulo- Chalybeate  /SJ^nVi^.  — This  is  also 
near  Shasty  Peak.  The  water  oozes  out  from 
among  the  rocks  into  a  basin  which  scarcely 
holds  a  gallon,  and  then  flows  down  into  a 
marshy  spot,  thickly  covered  with  an  iron 
crust.  It  is  brisk  and  pungent,  owing  to  the 
excess  of  carbonic  acid  in  its  composition.  It 
has,  therefore,  been  called  Soda  Water  by  the 
trappers.  The  taste  is  very  agreeable — acid- 
ulous  and  chalybeate — and  as  far  as  we  can 
judge  from  this  test,  it  contains  neither  alka- 
line nor  saline  ingredients.  The  temperature 
is  that  of  the  mountain  torrent  near  by. 

Fifty  yards  beyond  the  spring,  there  is  a 
shallow  ditch,  a  hundred  yards  in  length, 
containing  about  half  a  foot  of  water,  simi- 
larly chalybeate  but  less  brisk  with  carbonic 


VOLCANIC  SPRINGS. 


855 


acid.     Our  liorses,  adds  tlie  narrator,  drank 
freely  of  it,  and  with  good  relish. 

Volcanic  Springs.— JJndQV  t  lis  title,  Dr.  J. 
L.  Le  Conte  describes*  a  number  of  springs 
of  a  remarkable  character,  some  of  them  re- 
sembling the  mud  volcanoes  of  Taman,  in 
the  Crimea,  others  the  Geysers,  or  eruptive 
springs  of  Iceland.     These  springs,  which 
were  visited  by  Dr.  Le  Conte,  are  in  the 
Desert  pf  the  Colorado,  in  Southern  Cali- 
fornia, in  a  muddy  plain  bordering  a  salt 
lake.     North  of  the  lake,   distant  six  or 
eight  miles,  is  a  chain  of  rocky  hills  800  to 
1,000  feet  high,  portions  of   which  have  a 
volcanic  appearance.     "  Rising  from  the  plain 
where  '"c  now  stand   are  several  volcanic 
mounds,  about  100  to  150  feet  high.    Hasten- 
ing to  one  of  these,  I  found  it  composed  of 
lava  and  pumice."    After  telling  of  the  ef- 
forts made  by  the  Indians  of  his  escort  to  dis- 
suade him  from  his  intended  exploration,  he 

writes : — 

"  Advancing  towards  the  place  whence  the 
steam  issued,  we  found  on  the  muddy  plains 

*  Silliman's  Journal,  Jan.  1855.    No.  55,  2d  Series, 


Ik  i;i!!ii!! 


356      MINERAL  AND  THERMAL  SPRINGS. 

numerous  circular  lakes,  containing  boiling 
mud,  and  exhaling  a  naphtha-like  odor. 
Many  of  them  are  incrusted  with  inspissated 
mud,  forming  cones  3  to  4  feet  high,  from 
the  apex  of  which  proceed  mingled  vapors 
of  water,  sal  ammoniac,  and  sulphur.  Four 
of  them  eject  steam  and  clear  saline  water, 
with  great  violence,  resembling  in  appear- 
ance the  jet  from  the  pipe  of  a  high-pressure 
engine.  The  falling  spray  around  these  has 
formed  a  group  of  acicular  stalagmites,  com- 
posed  of  aragonite,  with  a  small  quantity  of 
silica,  and  some  saline  matter.  Many  of  these 
stalagmites  are  tubular  in  form.  Another 
spring  was  a  large  basin  filled  intermittingly 
to  overflowing,  with  foam  and  clear  saline 
water:  around  the  edge  were  butyroidal 
masses  of  aragonite,  like  that  forming  needlcn 
around  the  cones.  Near  the  cones,  in  little 
fissures,  were  crusts  of  what  seemed  to  be 
sal  ammoniac,  some  of  which  were  colored 
red,  possibly  by  sulphuret  of  selenium." 

On  returning  to  Yallecitas,  whence  the  party 
had  set  out  for  the  springs,  they  found  on 
the  most  northern  of  the  volcanic  mounds 
before   mentioned,  a  quantity  of  scoriiu  and 


and 


HOT  SULPHUR  ? :  HINGS. 


357 


obsidian,  and  distinctly  marked  the  course 
of  a  lava  stream  down  tlie  side.  The  mounds 
all  showed  traces  of  aqueous  action,  in  the 
terrace  like  manner  in  which  the  pumice  was 
arranged.    Near  Vallecitas  they  passed  some 
mounds  covered  with  cinders  and  pumice,  and 
on  the  top  of  one  of  them  found  a  orater-llke 
hollow,  in  which  grew  some  very  large  canes. 
Earthquake.     S])ouiing  Springs.  — I^r.  Le 
Conte  was  told  by  Lieut.  Davidson,  that  while 
he  was  stationed  at  Fort  Yuma,  in  Dec.  1853, 
a  violent  earthquake  occurred.    The  ground 
in  the  vicinity  of  the  fort  opene  1,  forming 
fissures  from  which  were  thrown  mud,  sand 
and  water.    Portions  of  the  mountains  seve- 
ral  miles  around  were  seen  to  fall,  and  about 
forty  miles  southeast  of  the  lort,  in  the  di- 
rection  of  some  springs,  pn^d  .o  be  similar  to 
those  just  now  d^iscribv^a,  was  seen  an  im- 
mense column  of  steam. 

Hot  SidjjJour  /S>mjs.  —  Ascending  the 
mountains  which  skirt  a  valley  to  the  west 
of  a  desert  extending  from  the  Colorado  about 
ninety  miles,  in  Southern  California,  the  tra- 
veller comer,  to  a  hot  sulphureous  spring  with 
a  temperature  of  137°   F.,  near  Warner's 


iiii 


i  Ml 


•k 


n 


N  •• 


358      MINERAL  AND  THERMAL  SPRINGS. 


Eancheria.     It  issues  in  large  volume  from 
the  fissure  of  a  granite  rock. 

New  Mexico  contains  many  mineral  and 
thermal  springs.  Several  sulphureous  sprino-g 
some  of  which  are  thermal,  if  we  may  infer 
so  from  the  name  of  the  place,  are  met  with 
at  Ojo  Galiente^  to  the  west  of  the  river  Del 
Norte,  40  miles  above  Santa  Fe. 


SPRINGS  OF  CANADA. 


359 


I 


CHAPTER  XIX. 

Mineral  Springs  of  Canada— Tuscarora  Acid  Spring— 
Charlotteville  Sulpliur  Spring  —  Ancaster  Spring  — 
Caledonia  Springs— Their  varieties— Gas,  Saline,  Sul- 
phur, and  Intermitting  Springs— Mineral  Artesian 
Well,  St.  Catharine's- Varennes,  &c. 

MINERAL  SPRINGS  OF  CANADA. 

In  tlie  communications  of  Mr.  T.  S.  Hunt, 
who  was  engaged  in  the  geological  survey  of 
Canada,  we  have  interesting  notices  of  some 
of  the  chief  mineral  springs  of  that  country.* 

The  Tuscarora  Acid  Spring.— The  same 
region  in  which  occur  the  acid  springs  of 
New  York  offers  in  Canada  a  remarkable 
one  of  a  similar  kind.  Mr.  Hunt  describes 
it  with  the  above  title.  It  is  situated  in  the 
to^\nship  of  Tuscarora,  in  the  Indian  Re- 
serve,  about  twenty  miles  north  of  Pass 
Dover,  which  is  the  nearest  point  on  Lake 
Erie.    The  water  contains  a  large  amount 

*  Silliman's  Journ.    New  Series,  Vols.  viii.  &  ix. 


iilil' 


''i 


I 


;% 


360      MINERAL  AND  THERMAL  SPRINGS. 


of  free  sulphuric  acid,  about  4  parts  in  1000 
besides  sulphates  of  the  alkalies,  lime,  niao-- 
nesia,  alumina,  and  iron  in  small  quantities. 

The  proportion  of  these  ingredients  is, 
however,  inconstant,  as  is  evident  from  an 
analysis  made  in  April,  1846,  by  Professor 
Croft,  of  King's  College,  Toronto,  which  is 
confirmed  by  a  partial  examination  by  Mr. 
Hunt  of  a  specimen  of  water  brought  from 
the  spring  in  1845. 

The  specific  gravity  of  the  water  was  much 
lower,  and  the  amount  of  foreign  ingredients 
much  less,  than  in  that  subsequently  collect- 
ed by  himself;  but  the  proportion  of  bases 
to  the  acids  was  much  greater. 

The  principal  spring  is  at  the  east  side  of 
the  old  stump  and  gnarled  roots  of  a  pine- 
tree,  and  has  a  round  basin  about  eight 
feet  in  diameter,  and  four  to  five  feet  deep : 
the  bottom  is  soft  mud.  There  is  no  visi- 
ble outlet  to  the  basin,  which,  at  the  time  of 
Mr.  Hunt's  visit,  was  filled  to  within  a  foot 
of  the  brim ;  fuller,  indeed,  than  it  had  been 
a  few  days  previously,  although  no  rain  had 
fallen  in  the  interval.     At  the  centre  of  the 


aLa    S 


L 1000, 
J,  mag- 
tities. 
ints  is, 
om  an 
ofessor 
bich  is 
by  Mr. 
it  from 

s  much 
edients 
3ollect- 
P  bases 

side  of 
El  pine- 
t  eight 

deep : 
10  visi- 
time  of 

a  foot 

id  been 

,iu  had 

of  the 


TUSCAROEA  ACID  SPRINGS. 


861 


basin  a  constant  ebullition  is  going  on  from 
the  evolution  of  small  bubbles  of  gas,  which 
is  found,  on  examination,  to  be  carburetted 
hydrogen.  The  water  is  slightly  turbid  and 
brownish  colored,  apparently  from  the  sur- 
rounding decayed  wood,  which,  indeed,  forms 
the  sides  of  the  b:<cin.  It  is  strongly  acid 
and  styptic  to  the  taste,  and  decidedly  sul- 
phureous, and  the  odor  0f  sulphuretted  hy- 
drogen is  perceived  for  some  distance  round 
the  place. 

Within  a  few  feet  of  this  was  another 
smaller  basin,  two  feet  in  diameter,  which 
had  about  one  foot  of  water  in  it.  It  was 
evolving  gas  more  copiously  than  the  former, 
and  was  somewhat  more  sulphureous  to  the 
taste,  although  not  more  acid.  In  other  parts 
of  the  inclosure  were  three  or  four  small 
cavities  partly  filled  with  a  water  more  or 
less  acid,  and  evolving  a  small  quantity  of 
gas.  The  temperature  of  the  larger  spring 
v;as  56°  F.,  that  of  the  smaller  one  56°  near 
the  surface,  but,  on  burying  the  thermometer 
in  the  soft  mud  at  the  bottom,  it  rose  to  60° 
F.,  October,  1847, 
U 


ll 


li'-r 


i 

ii 


"i  H  i 


362      MINERAL  AND  THERMAL  SPRINGS. 

Specific  gravity  of  the  water  1.005583. 
1000  parts  of  the  water  yielded — 


Sulphuric  acid  (SO) 

Potash 

Soda   . 

Lime  •        • 

Magnesia    . 

Peroxide  of  iron 

Phosphoric  acid  . 


4.6350 
.0320 
.0219 
.3192 
.0524 
.1915 
traces 


Eepresenting  the  bases  as  combined  with 
their  equi\  alent  of  sulphuric  acid,  we  have 
for  the  composition   of  1000   parts   of  the 


water — 

Sulphate  of  potash 
Sulphate  of  soda    . 
Sulphate  of  lime    . 
Sulphate  of  magnesia 
Sulphate  of  iron  (proto) 
Sulphate  of  alumina 
Phosphoric  acid 
Sulphuric  acid  (SIIO)     , 
Water    .         .        .         , 


traces 


.0G080 
.05020 
.77520 
.15395 
.36385 
.46811 

4.28952 
993.83387 


The  quantity  of  sulphuretted  hydrogen  is 
small,  being  about  one-half  of  a  cubic  inch  in 
200  cubic  inches  of  the  water. 

Charlotteville  Sulphur  Spring. — This 
spring  is  situated  a  few  miles  from  Port 
Dover,  on  Lake  Erie.  It  issues  near  the  bank 


I 


of  a  sms 
perature 
creek  w 
is  coate 
cific  grj 
limpid, 
ous,  am 
like  s^\ 
warmth 
tative  e 
sence  o: 
large  qi 
lime,  n 
iron. 
1000 

Sulpha 
Sulphn 
Sulpha 
Sulpha 
Chloric 
Carhoi 
Carboi 
Carboi 
Sulphi 
Carboi 
Water 


CHARLOTTE VILLE  SPRING. 


BQl 


of  a  small  stream  which  turns  a  mill.    Tem- 
perature (19th  Oct.)  45°,  while  that  of  the 
creek  was  49°,  of  the  air  26°  F.    The  surface 
is  coated  with  a  film  of  sulphur.     The  spe- 
cific gravity  of  the  water  is  1.002712 ;  it  is 
limpid,  sparkling,  in  odor  strongly  sulphure- 
ous, and  in  taste  pungent,  with  something 
like   sweetness,   leaving    an  impression   of 
warmth  in  the  mouth  for  some  time.   A  quali- 
tative examination  showed,  besides,  the  pre- 
sence of  chlorides  and  sulphates,  the  latter  in 
large  quantities ;  the  bases  were  potash,  soda, 
lime,  magnesia,  with  traces  of  alumina  and 
iron. 

1000  parts  of  the  water  gave — 


Sulphate  of  potash 

• 

.05103 

Sulphate  of  soda   . 

• 

.47182 

Sulphate  of  lime    . 

1.12670 

Sulphate  of  magnesia    . 

.43510 

Chloride  of  magnesium  . 

.08783 

Carbonate  of  lime 

.30500 

Carbonate  of  magnesia  . 

.01798 

Carbonate  of  iron 

traces 

Sulphuretted  hydrogen 

.17763 

Carbonic  acid 

.15350 

Water    .... 

.  997.17341 

1000.00000 

1  I 


HI 


364      MINERAL  AND  THERMAL  SPRINGS. 

The  peculiarity  of  this  water  is,  Mr.  Ilunt 
thinks,  the  unexampled  quantity  of  sulphu- 
retted  hydrogen  it  contains.  "  The  strongest 
of  the  celebrated  Harrogate  Springs  (Eng. 
land)  yields  but  14"^  cubic  inches  of  this  gas 
to  the  gallon,  while  the  Charlotteville  con- 
tains in  the  same  measure  26.8  cubic  inches." 
Amount  of  solid  matter2.49446  parts  in  1000. 

Ancaster  Spring. — This  spring,  which  is 
known  to  the  inhabitants  as  a  salt  well,  is 
about  two  miles  west  of  the  village  of  An- 
caster,  on  the  land  of  Mr.  Eobert  Ilerlop. 
Temperature  same  as  that  of  a  neighboring 
fresh  spring  of  48°  F.  The  water  is  ex- 
tremely bitter  and  saline  to  the  taste.  1000 
parts  of  the  water  contained,  according  to 
Mr.  T.  S.  Hunt,  Chemist  and  Mineralogist  to 
the  Geolgical  Commission  of  Canada — 

*  Hunter  {The  Mineral  Waters  of  Harrogate)  states  the 
quantity  of  this  gas  in  a  gallon  of  the  water  of  the  "Old 
Well"  to  be  150  cubic  inches;  and  of  "Thackwray's 
Pump,"  21. 


AXCASTER  SPRING. 


865 

17.82800 

.09200 

5.07370 

12.80270 

.10300 

.77690 

963.32301 


Chloride  of  sodium         .        .        •        • 
Chloride  of  potassium     .         .         •         • 
Chloride  of  magnesium 
Chloride  of  calcium        .        •        •        ' 
^Bromide  of  magnesium 
Sulphate  of  lime     . 

"Water    .        .        • 

1000.00000 
Amount  of  saline  matters  36.67639  parts  in  1000. 

This  water  is  extraordinary,  Mr.  H.  tells 
us,  on  account  of  the  immense  proportions 
of  chloride  of  magnesium  and  calcium  which 
it  contains,  the  sum  of  these  exceedmg  the 
amount  of  common  salt.  With  almost  the 
same  amount  of  solid  matter,  it  contains  less 
than  two-thirds  of  the  quantity  of  this  salt 
that  is  found  m  sea  water ;  in  this  respect  it 
is  quite  unlike  any  water  hitherto  described.t 

*  Mr.  Hunt  (Sill.  Journ.,  vol.  ix.  p.  267,  1850)  ve- 
marksonthesubjectof^na?,.i.o/MneraZTfa/er.-In^ 

present  state  of  our  knowledge,  we  must,  I  think,  be  led 
to  adopt  the  idea  of  a  partition  of  bases  among  the  differ- 
ent radicals,  bo  that  the  bromide  of  a  saline  water,  in- 
stead of  being,  as  is  here  represented  in  conformity  with 
general  custom,  combined  as  a  bromide  of  magnesium,  is 
divided  between  the  four  metals  usually  present,  in  pro- 
portions which  we  have  not  the  means  of  determimng. 
t  The  writer,  when  he  expressed  this  opinion,  was  not 

31* 


<r'W 


IMAGE  EVALUATION 
TEST  TARGET  (MT-3) 


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2.0 


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1.25 

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Photographic 

Sciences 
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WEBSTER,  N.Y.  14580 

(716)  873-4303 


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6^ 


366      MINERAL  AND  THERMAL  SPRINGS. 


The  Caledonia  Springs.— These  springs, 
which  are  well  known  as  a  place  of  resort 
during  the  warm  season,  are  situated  a  few 
miles  south  of  the  Ottawa  Eiver,  about  40 
miles  from  Montreal.  The  fountains,  which 
are  four  in  number,  rise  through  strata  of 
post-pliocene  clay,  which  overlie  a  rock  equi- 
valent  to  the  Trenton  limestone.  Three  of 
them,  known  as  the  Gas  Spring,  the  Saline 
Spring,  and  the  White  Sulphur  Spring,  are 
situated  within  a  distance  of  four  or  five  rods, 
and  the  mouths  of  the  latter  two  are  not 
more  than  four  feet  apart.  The  fourth,  known 
as  the  Intermitting  Spring,  is  situated  about 
two  miles  distant,  and  is  much  more  saline 
than  the  others.  The  first  three  are  alkaline, 
the  sulphur  spring  strongly  so,  while  the 
fourth  contains  in  solution  a  great  quantity  of 
earthy  chlorides. 

I.  The  Gas  Spring, — The  temperature  of 
the  air  being  61°.7  F.,  that  of  the  spring  was 
44°.4.    The  discharge  was  four  gallons  per 


The 
gen, 


aware  of  the  more  than  "extraordinary"  character  of  the 
water  of  the  Artesian  Well,  at  St.  Catharine's,  in  which, 
we  are  told,  the  proportion  of  the  two  salts  specified  by 
Mr.  II.  is  thirty-five  times  more  than  that  which  he  re- 
garded as  <* immense"  in  the  Ancaster  water. 


THE  SALINE  SPRING. 


867 


minute,  a  quantity  little  subject  to  variation. 
The  gas  discharged  was  carburetted  hydro- 
gen, evolved  at  the  rate  of  300  cubic  inches 
a  minute.  Specific  gravity  1006.2.  Taste 
pleasantly  saline,  but  not  at  all  bitter.  By 
exposure  to  the  air,  it  gradually  deposits  a 
white  sediment  of  earthy  carbonates.  Its 
reaction  is  distinctly  alkaline  to  test  papers. 
Compounds,  omitting  bases  and  radicals- 


Chloride  of  sodium 

Chloride  of  potassium  . 

Bromide  of  sodium 

Iodide  of  sodium 

Sulphate  of  potash 

Carbonate  of  soda 

Carbonate  of  lime 

Carbonate  of  magnesia 

Carbonate  of  iron  and  manganese 

Alumina       .... 

Silica 

Carbonic  acid 

Water  .        .        .        •  

1000.000000 
Saline  ingredients  in  1000  parts  7.7775.     Carbonic 
acid  in  100  cubic  inches  17.5. 

II.  The  Saline  Spring.— TuQ  spring  thus 
named  is  very  similar  to  the  last,  but  is  really 
less  strongly  saline.  .  Its  temperature  was 


0.967500 
.030940 
.015077 
.000530 
.005280 
.048570 
.148000 
.52G200 
traces 
.004400 
.031000 
.349000 
991.873503 


M. 


m 


1-kil 


368      MINERAL  AND  THERMAL  SrRINGS. 


ii 


45°  F.,  that  of  the  air  being  at  the  same  time 
60°  F.  The  specific  gravity  1.005824.  Its 
reaction  is  more  strongly  alkaline,  but  other- 
wise  the  results  of  the  qualitative  examina- 
tion are  similar  to  those  given  under  the 
head  of  the  "  Gas  Spring."  It  contains  no 
sulphuretted  hydrogen  whatever  ;  some  few 
bubbles  of  carburetted  hydrog  ;j.  aro  evolved, 
but  the  quantity  is  very  small.  The  dis- 
charge from  this  spring  is  about  ten  gallons 
per  minute.  Amount  of  solid  matter  7.347 
parts  in  1000.  The  quantity  of  free  carbonic 
acid  is  14.7  cubic  inches  in  100  cubic  inches 
of  water. 

III.  The  Sulphur  Spring.-^TKm  spring  is 
situated  very  near  to  the  last,  the  opening  of 
the  two  wells  being  not  more  than  four  feet 
apart.  It  has  a  feebly  sulphureous  taste  and 
odor,  and  may  be  said  to  have  traces  of  sul- 
phur rather  than  any  quantitative  return. 
Temperature  46°  F,,  that  of  the  air  being 
60°  F.  Specific  gravity  1003.7.  Amount 
of  solid  matters  4.9406  parts  in  1000  parts 
of  water.  This  is  the  most  strongly  alkaline 
of  the  group,  the  soda  being  2.12370  in  1000, 
and  the  carbonate  of  soda  0.45580,  of  lime 


t. 


INTERMITTING  SPRING. 


369 


0.21000,  of  magnesia  0.29400.  There  are 
traces  of  iodine  and  of  iron.  The  large  amount 
of  silica  (.08400)  which  it  contains  is  an  inte- 
resting peculiarity,  and  naturally  connects 
itself  with  the  strongly  alkaline  character  of 
the  water.  As  silica  is  capable  of  decompos- 
ing a  solution  of  carbonate  of  soda,  it  is  pro- 
bable that  a  portion  of  the  soda  must  really 
exist  in  the  condition  of  a  silicate. 

IV.  The    Tntermitting   Spring   is   situated 
about  two  miles  distant  from  the  others.    It 
rises  out  of  a  bank  of  clay  near  the  edge  of 
a  brook.   A  well  has  been  sunk  nearly  thirty 
feet  through  the  clay,  and  the  water  rises  to 
near  the  surface.    It  is  kept  in  almost  con- 
stant agitation  by  the  evolution  of  large 
quantities  of  carburetted  hydrogen  gas  ;  the 
water,  from  this  cause,  is  kept  constantly 
turbid    by  the  quantity   of   clay  diffused 
through  it,  and  it  is  only  after  being  allowed 
to  stand  for  several  hours  in  a  quiet  place 
that  it  becomes  transparent.    The  discharge 
of  gas  is  not  regular,  some  minates  often 
elapsing,  during  which  only  a  few  bubbles 
escape  from  time  to  time,  after  which  a  co- 
pious evolution  occurs  for  a  few  moments, 


)   -['4 


m 


ill 


870      MINERAL  AND  THERMAL  SPRINGS. 


Ill 


followed  by  another  period  of  quiescence. 
From  this  peculiarity  it  is  called  the  inter- 
mitting spring.  Temperature  50"^  at  the 
bottom  of  the  well,  that  of  the  air  being  61°. 
Solid  matter  in  1000  parts  14.639  parts. 

Composition  of  the  water.  A  qualitative 
examination  showed  the  presence  of  chlorine, 
bromine,  and  iodine,  with  potassium,  sodium, 
calcium,  and  magnesium  ;  a  large  portion  of 
the  latter  two  exists  in  the  condition  of  chlo- 
rides. No  sulphuric  acid  was  detected,  but 
there  were  traces  of  iron  and  alumina. 

Mineral  Artesian  Wells  at  St.  Catha- 
rine^s^  Canada  West. — The  only  knowledge 
which  I  have  of  this  water  is  through  the 
never  very  satisfactory  medium,  in  such 
cases,  of  a  circular  for  the  multitude,  in  which 
the  marvellous,  the  doubtful,  and  the  true  are 
commingled.  Assuming  the  printed  state- 
ments of  the  results  of  an  analysis  by  Dr.  Jas. 
E.  Chilton  to  be  correct,  che  saline  ingredients 
of  this  water  are  in  singularly  large  propor- 
tion, and  this  too  of  certain  salts  which  are  far 
from  being  common,  still  less  abundant,  in 
mineral  springs.  A  pint  of  the  water  is  re- 
presented to  hold  in  solution  5064.15  grains 


^w^ 


-TT^V 


I 


ST.  CATHARINE'S  WELL. 


of  saline  substances,  which  are  equal  to  nearly 
five-sevenths  of  the  watery  menstruum  in 
which  they  are  dissolved.  In  other  words, 
sixteen  ounces  of  water  hold  in  solution 
rather  more  than  ten  ounces  and  a  half  of 
saline  matters.  They  are  in  the  following 
proportions,  in  one  pint  of  the  water;  its 
specific  gravity  at  60°  F.  being  1.0347  :— 

2950.40 

1289.76 

781. 3G 

13.76 


Chloride  of  calcium 
Chloride  of  magnesium 
Chloride  of  sodium 
Proto-chloride  of  iron 


Sulphate  of  lime 

Carbonates  of  lime  and  magnesia 

Bromide  of  magnesium 

Iodide  of  magnesium 

Silica  and  alumina 


h 


trace 


16.32 
2.08 


.47 


Grains 


5064.15 


According  to  this  analysis,  the  proportion 
of  chloride  of  calcium  (muriate  of  lime)  in 
the  water  is  a  little  more  even  than  that 
which  is  found  in  the  solution  of  this  salt 
directed  by  the  Pharmacopoeia  of  the  United 
States,  viz :  one  part  of  the  chloride  in  two 
and  a  half  parts  of  the  solution.  On  read- 
ing  a  little  further,  after  the  table  of  con- 
stituents of  this  water,  we  come  to  a  "  Card 


IJi 


t  .'    1.  ; 
I 

i 


872      MINERAL  AND  ^-^HERMAL  SPRINGS. 


to  the  Public,"  in  which  we  learn  that  the 
product  of  the  artesian  well  is  subjected  to 
a  certain  process  of  depuration  and  evapora- 
tion, and  that  "that  part  wb-ch  is  composed 
of  common  salt  first  np^'A^^  and  ia  removed; 
the  remainder  is  liLpud  ^'nto  vats  until  the 
earthy  matter  subsides  and  then  bottled  off 
without  any  drug  or  .rlmixture  whatever 
being  added  thereto."'  This  much  \; :  learn 
from  the  card  signed  by  three  reverend  gen- 
tlemen; one,  a  rector,  and  two,  pastors  of 
churches,  in  St.  Catharine's.  The  more  ob- 
yious  common  sense  course,  in  this  matter, 
would  have  been  to  procure  the  attestation 
of  a  respectable  apot  ecary  or  pharmaceutist 
on  the  spot,  who  could  have  told  in  intelligi- 
ble language  the  changes  to  which  the  water 
had  been  subjected.  The  thing  was  a  ques- 
tion of  chemistry,  not  of  theology.  Now, 
since  the  time  of  Bishop  Watson,  we  are  not 
aware  that  the  reverend  expounders  of  the 
Gospel  have  been  famous  for  their  love  of  or 
advances  in  chemical  science,  nor,  with  few 
exceptions,  have  they  evinced  any  fondness 
for  the  sciences  in  general.  In  any  thing 
connected  with  the  science  of  medicine,  or 


CLEIUCAL  CREDULITY. 


the  art  of  healing,  their  opinions  are  the  least 
to  be  relied  on  of  any  class  of  men  in  the 
community.     Only  tell  them  that  the  object 
is  a  good  one,  that  the  article  or  compound, 
though  most  probably  an  old  remedy  with  a 
new  Greco-Gothic  or  mongrel  Indian  name, 
will  certainly  cure,  and  there  is  no  quackery 
too  gross,  no  imposition  too  transparent,  but 
what  will  find  among  the  members  of  their 
profession  supporters,  and  every  now  and 
then  volunteer  missionaries  to  disseminate  a 
knowledge  of  its  wonderful  effects,  and  to  in- 
crease  the  number  of  the  credulous.     The 
sceptic  in  religion,  who  is  too  indolent  or  too 
prejudiced  to  inquire  for  himself  into  the 
grounds  of  faith,  may  plausibly  enough  doubt 
the  soundness  of  the  religious  creed  of  those 
who,  while  they  undertake  to  expound  and 
enforce  what  is  good  for  the  cure  of  souls, 
are  so  negligent  of  the  laws  of  evidence  and 
the  principles  of  logic  in  what  relates  to  the 

cure  of  the  body. 

In  thus  commenting  on  the  certificate  of 

the  reverend  gentlemen  of  St.  Catharine's,  I 

do  not  mean  for  a  moment  to  imprn,ch  their 

purity  of  inteDtiou,  nor  to  deny  tht  proprie- 

32 


1 


874      MINERAL  AXD  THERMAL  SPEIXGS. 

tor  of  the  Well  the  benefit  of  his  explanation. 
One  thing  seems  to  be  certain,  that  the  water 
bottled  and  sent  away  is  a  water  prepared 
from  that  of  St.  Catharine's  Well,  but  not  the 
water,  the  direct  flow  from  the  vein  or  veins 
opened  by  boring.  It  may  be  asked,  why 
this  evaporation,  and  what  security  is  there 
against  a  precipitation  of  other  salts,  and  espe- 
cially  of  that  of  iron,  besides  the  chloride  of 
sodium  ?  Then,  again,  how  is  it,  if  this  last 
mentioned  salt  had  been  precipitated  by  eva- 
poration, and  "  removed,"  that  it  figures  so 
largely  in  the  water  analyzed  by  Dr.  Chilton  ? 

There  must  be  wonderful  differences  in  the 
strength  of  the  saline  impregnation  of  differ- 
ent specimens  of  this  water.  A  bottle  con- 
taining twelve  ounces  was  left  at  the  shop  of 
Professor  Proctor,  of  the  Philadelphia  College 
of  Pharmacy,  with  the  assurance  by  the  per- 
son  who  brought  it  that  it  was  from  St.  Ca- 
tharine's  Well,  in  its  original  state. 

Mr.  Proctor's  intelligent  assistant,  J.  E. 
Yonng,  was  kind  enough  to  make  some  ex- 
amination of  this  specimen  of  the  water  with 
the  following  results :  Specific  gravity,  1.390. 
Saline  contents  in  one  ounce,  164  grains,  and 


MISLEADING  DESCRIPTION. 


375 


in  one  pint  2,624  grains.  This  last,  large  as 
is  the  proportion,  is  only  a  little  more  than 
one-half  of  the  quantity  of  the  salts  contain- 
ed in  a  pint  of  the  water  sent  to  Dr.  Chilton 
for  analysis ! 

If  we  might  offer  any  advice  to  tlie  pro- 
prietor of  the  Artesian  Mineral  Well  at  St. 
Catharine's,  it  would  be :  1.  To  content  himself 
with  the  natural  water,  which  is  quite  active 
enough  for  all  the  purposes  to  which  such  a 
combination  is  deemed  applicable.  2.  To  get 
some  physician  on  the  spot  to  speak  intelli- 
gibly of  the  properties  and  medicinal  efiects 
of  the  water ;  and  3.  To  procure  the  services 
of  a  less  ignorant  writer  than  the  author  of 
his  present  circular.     Then  shall  we  not  be 
told  of  chloride  ie  calcium,  nor  the  untruths 
that  iodine  and  bromine,  of  which  a  trace 
only  was  detected  by  analysis,  are  "some  of 
the  principal  constituents."  Nor  should  we  read 
the  nonsense  of  sodium,  a  metalloid,  "  being 
another  body  which  enters  largely  into  the 
composition  of  the  water,"  and  of  its  being 
"  one  of  the  most  valuable  salts  yet  disco- 
vered;"  nor  the  irrelevant  matter  about  sul- 
phuric acid,  and  its  curative  powers,  as  if  it 


m 


876      MINER A.L  AND  TIIKR^MAL  SrRlXGS. 


were  free  in  the  water,  and  not  combined  and 
neutrrlized  by  a  base  of  lime,  so  as  to  form  a 
sulphate,  a  salt,  which,  if  not  inert,  is  certainly 
not  friendly  to  the  human  organism.  The 
clerical  brethren  of  St.  Catharine's  ought  to 
have  rer.d  all  this  trash  before  they  allowed 
their  names  to  figure,  as  vouchers,  on  the 
same  sheet  in  which  it  appears. 

Unable  to  look  to  any  reliable  source  for 
information  respecting  the  dose  and  the  the- 
rapeutic value  of  the  water  of  St.  Catharine's, 
I  must  defer  to  a  future  occasion,  any  re- 
marks on  this  subject. 

Yarennes  SPRINGS.^—They  are  on  the 
southern  border  of  the  St.  Lawrence,  seven- 
teen miles  below  Montreal.  A  century  ago 
they  were  much  resorted  to,  but  of  late  years 
have  fallen  into  unmerited  neglect.  There 
are  two  springs;  the  Gas  or  Inner  Spring,  in- 
closed in  a  house,  and  the  Saline  or  Outer 
Spring,  distant  from  the  other  about  a  hun- 
dred yards.  The  amount  of  saline  materials 
in  the  first  is  9.586  in  1,000  parts  of  the 
water;  and  in  the  second,  is  10.721.     Both 

*  T.  S.  Hunt.— Silliman's  Journal,  vol.  xi.  1851. 


i 


ST.  LEON  AND  CAXTOX  SPRINGS. 


377 


contain  chloride,  iodide  and  bromide  of  so- 
dium, and  carbonates  of  soda,  baryta,  .stron- 
tia,  lime,  magnesia,  and  iron.  The  Gas 
Spring  receives  its  name  from  tbe  large 
quantity  of  carburetted  hydrogen  evolved. 
The  temperature  r^'  the  v»^ater  of  the  two 
springs  4:5°.5  aiu  dt7^.5  F. 

St.  Leon  Spring. — It  is  saline  and  chaly- 
beate, and  contains  the  same  ingredients  as 
those  of  Yarennes,  with  the  addition  of  a 
larger  proport'^n  of  iron.  The  water  is  kept 
in  constant  ebullition  by  the  escape  of  large 
quantities  of  carburetted  hydrogen  gas. 

Caxton  Spring. — This  spring  is  situated 
in  the  township  of  Caxton,  on  the  Yarna- 
chiche  Eiver,  about  five  leagues  from  the 
vlllao-e  of  the  same  name.  It  also  evolves 
largely  carburetted  hydrogen.  In  this  re- 
spect, as  well  as  in  its  composition,  resem- 
bling the  spring  of  St.  Leon. 

The  Plantagenet  Spring.— Tnis  id  in  a 
township  from  which  it  derives  its  nc.me,  not 
far  from  the  southern  bank  of  the  Ottawa. 
The  water  of  this  spring  bears  a  close  resem- 
blance to  the  last  two  waters. 

It  has  not  been  my  good  fortune  to  meet 


a2^ 


378      MINERAL  AND  THERMAL  SPRINGS. 


with  any  notice  of  the  medicinal  uses  to 
which  the  Canada  Springs  have  been  ap- 
pHed ;  although  it  is  probable  that  informa- 
tion on  this  subject  has  been  put  on  record 
by  more  than  one  of  the  intelligent  and 
experienced  professional  gentlemen  of  that 
country. 


APPENDIX. 


I. 

THERMAL  SPRINGS  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES. 

Fahrenheit. 


73^ 

72^? 

73° 


Bennington,  Yermont 

Lebanon,  New  York* 

Perry  County,  Pennsylvania 

Bath,  Berkley  County,  Virginia 

"Warm  Springs,  Bath  County,  do. 

Hot  Springs,  do.  do.  98°to  106° 

Healing  Springs,      do.  do.         .     84° 

Sweet  Springs,  Monroe  County,  do.    .     74^ 

*  Professor  Mather  says,  that  some  of  the  gas  springs 
in  New  York,  and  probably  all  of  them,  are  thermal,  as 
are  some  of  the  acidulous— those  of  Ballston  and  Sara- 
toga, for  example;  and  Mr.  Hall  tells  us  that  all  the  sul- 
phureous springs  in  the  Fourth  District  of  that  State, 
have  a  temperature  above  that  of  the  common  springs. 
Professor  Wm.  B.  Rogers  expresses  his  conviction  that  a 
great  proportion  of  the  copious  and  constant  springs  of 
the  vast  belt  of  mountains  occupied  by  the  Appalachian 
range,  especially  those  of  the  ^eat  limestone  valley  of 
Virginia,  "  are  truly  though  slightly  thermal."  He  notices 
fifty-six  springs  which  are  decidedly  thermal,  including, 
in  the  list,  the  White  Sulphur  Springs  of  Greenbrier 
County. 


i 


P 

1  ;; 


iili 


Ii 


lUl 


880 


APPENDIX. 


Eed  Sweet  Springs,  do.  .  .  .78° 
Holstein  Spring,  Scott  County,  do.  .  68° 
Buncombe  County,  North  Carolina  94  to  104° 
French  Broad  Eiver,  Tennessee  .  .95° 
Meriwether  County,  Georgia  .  .  90° 
Washitaw,  Warm  Spring  Counter,  Ar- 
kansas .  .  .  140°  to  156° 
Florida,  Sulphur  Springs  of  .  .  70° 
Spring  near  Fort  Laramie,  Nebraska  .  74° 
Great  Salt  Lake  City,  Warm  Spring  at. 

"  "      Hot  Spring  near  the  123° 

"  "      Warm  Fountains. 

**  "      Hot  Chalybeate  Eed 

Springs,  30  miles  from  the  132'-^  to  136° 
Great  Salt  Lake,  Thermal  Saline,  north 

of  .        .  74°  to  84° 

*^  •        "     Spring  Yalley,  Thermal 
Saline,  south  of  .        .        .  70°  to  74° 
Bear  Eiver  Hot  and  Warm  Springs,  74 
miles  N.  W.from  Great  Salt  Lake 

City 134° 

Lake  Utah,  Warm  Springs  of     . 
Hot  Springs,  Oregon  .        .        .        .164° 
Malheur  Eiver  Hot  Springs,  do.  .        .  193° 
Hot  aud  Warm  Spring,  of  Fall  Eiver, 

Oregon         .        .        .        89°  to  134° 
Hot  Springs,  Pyramid  Lake,Utah  206  to  208° 


APPENDIX. 


881 


Hot  Spring  of  Shasty  Peak,  California. 
Hot  Sulpliur  Springs,  do.       .137° 

Volcanic  Springs  emitting  water  and  steam. 


If 


II. 

MINERAL  ARTESIAN  WELL  OF  PETTY'S  ISLAND. 

I  omitted  to  speak,  in  its  proper  place, 
of  the  chalybeate  water  of  Petty 's  Is- 
land, wliicli  is  situated  in  tlie  Delaware 
Kiver,  opposite  Eichmond,  the  upper  or 
northern  part  of  Philadelphia.  This  spring 
issues  from  an  Artesian  well,  bored  in  the 
summer  of  1852,  with  a  view  of  procuring 
cool,  drinkable  water,  for  the  use  of  the  peo- 
ple employed  at  the  ship -yard  on  the  island. 

An  analysis  made  by  John  Hewson,  Jr., 
assistant  of  Professor  Booth,  gave  the  follow- 
ing results,  in  a  gallon  of  the  water  : — 


Grains. 

Bicarbonate  of  iron    . 

.     16.305 

(( 

lime    . 

.       4.360 

(( 

magnesia    . 

.       1.839 

u 

Boda   . 

.       1.011 

Silica 

•                 •                 • 

.       3.720 

Organic 

matter  . 

.       3.100 

Free  carbonic  acid     . 

.       8.224 

m 


1 1 


39.159 


382 


APPENDIX. 


^ 


Mr.  Booth  thinks  that,  consideiing  the  loss 
of  carbonic  acid  by  exposure  and  evapora- 
tion, its  excess  above  all  the  bases  computed 
as  bicarbonates,  would  be  17.37  cubic  inches. 

The  water  of  Petty's  Island  is  regarded  by 
Mr.  B.  as  a  true  earthy  chalybeate,  contain- 
ing an  amount  of  iron  (one  and  a  half  grains 
of  carbonate  in  the  pint)  which  is  exceeded 
by  only  two  or  three  in  Europe. 

"This  water,"  continues  Mr.  Booth,  "is 
farther  characterized  by  the  large  amount  of 
silica  which  it  contains,  being  nearly  half 
a  grain  to  the  pint ;  and  by  the  absence  of 
sulphates  and  chlorides;  being  in  this  last  re- 
spect different  from  all  other  chalybeates,  the 
analysis  of  which  I  have  found."* 

The  water  has  a  diuretic  effect  as  far  as  can 
bo  inferred  from  a  few  trials.  Of  its  efficacy 
in  a  large  circle  of  diseases  in  which  chaly- 
beates are  called  for  there  can  hardly  be  a 
doubt. 


*  American  Journal  Med.  Sciences.     Jan.  1853. 


INDEX. 


'n 


Acid  Springs  (see  Alum  Springs),  13,  131,  136,  177,  359 
Albany  Artesian  Mineral  Wells,  88 
Alburgh  Springs,  144 
Alum  Springs,  Bath  Co.,  189 
Church  Hill,  238 
Rockbridge,  190 
Anabaina,  228 
Ancaster,  364 
Arkansas,  Springs  of,  302 
Hot  Springs  of,  305 

vapor  bath  from,  306 
Artesian  Mineral  W^lls,  69,  88,  125,  295,  370,  881 
Auburn,  124 
Avon  Springs,  98-104 

■waters,  virtues  of,  104 
doses  of,  114 
external  use  of,  117 
situation  of,  98,  99 

B. 

Baden-Baden,  Hot  Springs  of,  314 
Bailey's,  295 
Ballston,  03,  68,  75 


IH 


il 


\ 


w 


384 


INDEX. 


Baregine,  228 

Bath,  a,  the  temperature  and  duration  of,  37 

desired  effects  from,  38 

hot,  caution  in  using,  41,  208 

diseases  in  which  it  is  useful,  209 

warm,  198, 199 

diseases  in  which  used,  200 
Bath  Co.,  Alum  Springs  of,  189 
Bath,  Berkley  Co.,  \?a.,  Thermal  Springs  of,  163 
Bath  Co.,  Va.,  Warm  Springs  of,  197,  236 
Bath,  Pennsylvania,  178 
Bath  waters,  England,  209 
Bathing,  transition,  307 

with  the  use  of  mineral  waters,  3G 
Baths,  division  of,  39 
Beane's  station,  278 
Bear  River,  Beer  Springs  at,  322 

hot  and  warm,  339 
Bedford  Springs,  152 

waters,  154 

analyses  of,  158,  169 
remedial  virtues  of  the,  153,  1  GO 
Beer  Springs,  322 

near  to  an  extinct  volcano,  330 
Benedict,  Dr.,  his  Sanatarium  at  Magnolia,  319 
Bennington,  144 
Berkshire,  146 
Bladon,  292,  3 
Blossburg,  177 
Blue  Licks,  258 

lower,  259 
Boiling  Springs  at  Pike's  Peak,  ool 


INDEX. 


385 


Brandy  wine,  182 

Brine  or  Salt  Springs,  N.  Y.,  139 

Buncombe  Co.,  282 


Caledonia,  Pa.,  179 

Canada,  3G6 
Canada,  Mineral  Springs  of,  359 
Capon,  18G 
Carbonated,  or  Boiling  Springs  of  Pike's  Peak,  331 

or  Beer  Springs,  322 
Carlisle,  174 

Carlsbad,  Hot  Springs  of,  314 
Catskill  Spring,  129 
Caxton,  377 
Chappequa,  128 
Charlotteyille,  362 
Chautauque  Co.  Springs,  130 
Chick's  Spring,  286 
Chittenango  Springs,  121 
Church  Hill  Alum  Spring,  238 
Clarendon,  141 
Clifton  Springs,  120 
Clothing,  attention  to,  24-26 
Coffee  not  proper  for  invalids,  27 
Columbia  Co.  Springs,  N.  Y.,  129 
Cooper  s  Well,  296 
Crisis,  or  bath  storm,  109 


'i:il 


P. 


Deer  Creek,  or  Seneca,  127 
Dcx-ter  Springs,  113 

33 


886 


INDEX. 


Dibrell's  Spring,  23G 

Diet,  rules  for,  26 

Doubling  Gap  Springs,  176 

Douches  or  Spout  Bathing,  hot,  210 

Dry  den  Springs,  129 

Duchess  Co.  Springa,  N.  Y.,  129 

Dun's  Spring,  278 


Earthquake— Spouting  Springs,  357 
Ephrata  Springs,  179 
Estill  Springs,  271 
Exercise,  daily,  29 

P. 

Fall  Ptirer,  hot  and  warm  springs  of,  349 
Fauquier   187 
Fayette  Spring,  176 
Frankfort  Mineral  Springs,  171 
Fredonia,  Gas  Springs  at,  141 
French  Lick,  278 

G. 

Gas  Springs,  61 
Genoi,  acid  springa  near,  138 
Georgia,  springs  of,  287 
Glairine,  227 
Glenn's  Falls,  87 
Springs,.  285 
Gordon's,  290 
Great  Salt  Lake  City,  836 
Greenville,  286 


Halle 
llarr 
Ilarr 
Harr 
Heal 
Higli 
Hols 
Hot 


H 

H 

n 


INDEX. 


387 


IIfilleck'3,  91 
llaiTodsburg,  241 
Harrogate  Water,  England,  364 
Harrowgate,  N   Y  ,  128 
Healing,  230 
Ilighgatc,  143 
Holstcin,  238 

Hot  Springs,  Arkansas,  302 
in  Mexico,  352 
St.  Lucia,  353 
North  Carolina,  282 
Batbs  of  Nero,  352 
of  Chaudes  Aigues,  351 
Island  of  Amsterdam,  352 
Little  Geysers  at  Reikum,  352 
New  Zealand,  352 
Oregon,  347,  349 
Pyramid  Lake,  356 

compared  with  others,  351-2 

rtcikiavik,  352 

Shasty  Teak,  353 

St.  Michael's,  352 

Stokkr,  352 

the  Great  Geysers,  352 

Ussina  in  Japan,  352 

Utah,  336,  337,  339,  350 

Virginia,  208 
Hudson,  springs  in  the  valley  of,  128 
Huguenot,  239 


t 


Illinois,  Upper,  275 
Indian  Springs,  287 


888 


INDEX. 


J. 


Jordan  River,  Utah,  335 
Jordan's  Springs,  185 


L. 


Lake  George,  87 

Laramie  Fort,  Thermal  Spring  near,  321 

Lebanon  Spj.ing,  138 

Thermal  and  Gaseous,  139 
Lee's,  278 

Leuk  or  Loeche,  social  bathing  at,  205 
Lubec,  in  Maine,  142 

M. 
Madison,  288 
Magnolia,  319 

Sanatarium  at,  319 
Malvern  (England),  181 
Manlius  Springs,  122 
Messina        "      12a 
Mineral  Waters — 

Acidulous,  13 

Artesian  Well  of  St.  Catharine's,  370 

Bathing  in  connection  with,  36 

Chalybeate,  15 

Different,  to  be  used  in  succession,  58 

Diseases  in  which  used,  45 

Division  of,  13 

First  effects  of,  42 

Invalids  resorting  to,  50 

Positive  effects  of,  21 

Remedial  value  of,  17 

Rule?  for  di  Inking,  31 


*.     \ 


INDEX. 


339 


Mineral  yfnicTs^continued. 
Saline,  14 
Sulpliureous,  14 

Murray  County,  Ga.,  290 


Nanticoke,  129 

Natron  Lakes,  322 

Newburg,  144 

Newburgh,  129 

Niagara  County  Springs,  127 

Nitrogen  Springs,  141 

0. 

Oak  Orchard  Springs,  133 
Ocean  Springs,  300 
Olympian,  251 

P. 

Paramo  de  Ruiz,  Acid  Spring,  137 

Passambio,  136 

Perry  County  Springs,  174 

Petty 's  Island,  381 

Pittsburg  Chalybeate  Spring,  170 

Plantagenet,  377 

Ponds  of  Sal  iEratus,  321 

Pulse,  reduction  of,  by  the  Red  Sulphur  waters,  225 

Pyramid  Lake,  353 

Hot  Springs  of,  350 
Pyrenees,  Springs  of  the,  213 

R. 

Rawley's,  237 

Red  Springs,  Hot  Chalybeate,  337 


'II 


390 


INDSX. 


Reed's  Mineral  Spring,  91 
Rio  Vinaigvo,  13G 
Robertson's,  277 
Rochester,  Kentucky,  251 

New  York,  125 
Rockbridge  Alum  Springs,  190 
Rowland's,  290 
Rutlcdge,  278 

S. 
Sal  ^ratug,  ponds  of,  321 
Salt  and  Sulphur  Springs,  340 
Salt  Lake,  Great,  334 

Mineral  and  Thermal  Springs  near  the,  334 

Water  of  the,  342 
Sam's  Creek,  278 

Sanatarinm,  at  Magnolia,  East  Florida,  31-9 
Saquoit  Springs,  127 
Saratoga,  03 

how  reached,  88 

Springs,  G3,  68 

Waters,  78 
Schooley's  Mountain,  149 

Situation  of  the  Springs,  151 
Seneca  or  Deer  Lick,  127 
Shannondale,  184 
Sharon,  94 

How  reached,  95 

Waters  of,  97 

Virtues  of,  118 
Shasty  Peak,  854 

Acidulo-chalybeate  at,  354 

Hnf,  sr>rinfy  nt.  .153 


INDEX. 


3^1 


Skep,  measure  of,  29 

how  driven  away,  28 
6Qdi   carbonate  of,  ponds  of,  322 

used  in  bread,  322 
Soda  or  Beer  Springs,  322 
Spartanburpr,  286 
Spouting  Springs— Earthqualto,  357 

Spring  Mills,  124 
Springs,  Mineral — 
Alabama,  291 
Arkansas,  302 
Californir-,  885 
Canada,  359 

Carburetted  hydrogen,  141 
Delaware,  182 
Division  of,  13 
Florida,  318 
\jeorgia,  287 
Hot.— See  Hot  Springs. 
Illinois,  275 

Invalids  resorting  to,  48 
S'je  Mineral  Waters. 
Kansas,  331 
Kentucky.  241 
M^siiachusetts,  146 
Mississippi,  296 
Nebraska,  321 
New  Jersey,  149 
New  Mexico,  357 
Nitrogen,  141 
North  Carolina,  282 
Maine,  142 


892 


INDEX. 


Springs,  Mineral — continued. 

of  New  York,  60 

Ohio,  273 

Oregon,  322 

Pennsylvania,  152 

Red  Sweet,  235 

South  Carolina,  285 

Sweet,  233 

Tennessee,  276 

Thermal,  and  Vo^canism,  192 

Vermont,  143 

Virginia,  183 

Warm. — See  Warm  Springs. 

Utah,  334 
Spring  Valley,  341 

Thermal  Springs  at,  345 
St.  Leon  Springs,  377 
Steamboat  Spring,  326 
Sulphur  Compound,  226 
Sulphur  Springs,  Blue,  231 

Group  of,  in  Virginia,  212 

Hot,  357 

in  Northern  New  York,  128 

in  Southern  New  York,  128 

of  Bitter  Creek,  Utah,  334 

Red,  224 

Salt,  229 

Warm,  336 

White,  215 
Sulphuraria,  228 

Sulphureous  Springs,  division  of,  14,  213 
Suwannee,  219 


INDEX. 


898 


T. 

Talahatta,  292 

Tampa,  819 

Tea,  injurious  to  the  nervous,  &c.,  28 

Teplitz,  Hot  Springs  of,  314 

Thermal  Spring,  definition  of,  16 

Springs,  list  of,  in  the  United  States,  379 
Saline,  340,  1 
Tuscarora  Acid  Spring,  359 
Tyre's  Spring,  278 


U. 


Utah  Lake,  335,  342 

Warm  Springs  of,  342 

V. 

Vapor  Bathing,  317 

Physiological  eifects  of,  317 

Baths  at  Washitaw,  306 
Vareunes,  376 
Vermilionville,  276 
Verona  Springs,  126 

Vichy  Waters,  effects  of  bathing  in  the,  21 
Volcanic  Springs,  355 
Volcanoes,  the,  of  Ruiz  and  Purac6,  137 

acid  springs  near,  137,  138 

W. 

Walake,  319 

Warm  Fountains,  337 

Warm  Springs  of  Bear  River,  339 

of  Georgia,  288 

''   Fall  River,  349 

Near  Great  Salt  Lake,  336-42 


394 


INDEX. 


Warm  Springs  of  North  Carolina,  282 

Tennessee,  281 

Lake  Utah,  842 

Virginia,  197 
Warrenton,  187 
Washitaw,  Acidilous  Springs  of,  308 


r\\ 


halybcate  of,  308 
Hot  Springs,  302 

Description  of,  310 

Soup-like  taste  of  their  water,  308,  310 

Therapeutic  value  of,  309 
Water,  hot,  internal  use  of,  210 
Westport,  274 
West's  Spring,  286 
White's  Creek,  277 
Wildbad,  delights  of  bathing  at,  203 
Winchester,  279 
Wines,  factitious,  27 


Y. 


Yellow  Spring,  Ohio,  273 
Springs,  Penn.,  178 
York  Springs,  173 


